D-Day Dodgers….
Hi all
While big events were taking place in Normandy in 1944 another British army were being accused in Parliament of having an easy time in Italy.
The MP in question who brought this was up was Lady Nancy Astor.
With typical British wit the guys in Italy became known for evermore as the D-day dodgers.
They eventually had a little song to the same title.
The first line of which began I think.
“Down in old Salerno, down among the Yanks”
It went then went on to extol the virtues of places like Anzio, Cassino and Salerno and what fun it had been being ‘on holiday’ there.
Why do I raise this here?
Well on 6th June 1944 my own father was somewhere north of Casino–‘on holiday’ with the Yanks.
I know what his views would be on paying to get into Duxford.
Then again if they ever had ” an Italian Campaign Day” I doubt he’d go anyway.
As someone said on the other thread perhaps a sign of actually having been there is the silence about it.
I’ve had a number of conversations like this with him over the years.
Dad, why did you volunteer for The Suffolks on your eighteenth birthday?
Because working in a shoe factory was sh*t son.
Dad, who had the best army?
The Germans, I still can’t work out how we beat them.
There’s more but mostly very politically incorrect.
Dad’s still around, driving, helping my wife to decorate the bathroom, gardening and a voracious reader–he’s 81.
Thanks for reading
Andy
Sign In
