http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Arch.../msg00200.html

Churchill had no issues with the Australian fighting ability but believed they were trouble off the battlefield (not alone there). He had some big issues with the Australian Government during WW2. See above link.

My recent reading of Gilbert's book on Churchill has increased my admiration for this truly great person.

Saw the link. Churchill was a Liberal party man as well. Tory - Liberal - Tory.

As he famously said :- "Anyone can rat - it takes a real man to re-rat".

If it were possible, I wonder how Churchill would have wished to utilize the Australian Divisions in Europe in 1944.

I wish I could find the source but I thought that Monty said he would have dearly wanted the ANZAC Divisions at Caen. He reckons they would have given the Germans plenty more to think about in that part of the Normandy campaign. The Caen fighting may have been concluded sooner.

My uncle Charlie was part of the 8th Army, serving in North Africa, Sicily, Italy finally finishing the war in Austria, what annoyed him greatly was being referred to as the Dday Dodgers by Lady Astor . A ballad was written in response to the tune of Lili Marlene.
Exactly who wrote The Ballad of the D-Day Dodgers is unknown, although it may have originated with Hamish Henderson.


We're the D-Day Dodgers out in Italy -

Always on the vino, always on the spree.
Eighth Army scroungers and their tanks
We live in Rome - among the Yanks.
We are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

We landed at Salerno, a holiday with pay,
Jerry brought the band down to cheer us on our way
We all sang the songs and the beer was free.
We kissed all the girls in Napoli.
For we are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

The Volturno and Cassino were taken in our stride
We didn't have to fight there. We just went for the ride.
Anzio and Sangro were all forlorn.
We did not do a thing from dusk to dawn.
For we are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

On our way to Florence we had a lovely time.
We ran a bus to Rimini right through the Gothic Line.
On to Bologna we did go.
Then we went bathing in the Po.
For we are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

Once we had a blue light that we were going home
Back to dear old Blighty, never more to roam.
Then somebody said in France you'll fight.
We said never mind, we'll just sit tight,
The windy D-Day Dodgers, out in Sunny Italy.

Now Lady Astor, get a load of this.
Don't stand up on a platform and talk a load of piss.
You're the nation's sweetheart, the nation's pride
We think your mouth's too bloody wide.
We are the D-Day Dodgers, in Sunny Italy.

When you look 'round the mountains, through the mud and rain
You'll find the scattered crosses, some which bear no name.
Heartbreak, and toil and suffering gone
The boys beneath them slumber on
They were the D-Day Dodgers, who'll stay in Italy.

So listen all you people, over land and foam
Even though we've parted, our hearts are close to home.
When we return we hope you'll say
"You did your little bit, though far away
All of the D-Day Dodgers, way out there in Italy."

errol.....The battle for Caen was a battle of attrition, the German Panzer had dug in deep and in great depth. To stop Monty breaking out there was one German defencive line after another. The German Hitler Youth Division fought to the death at Caen and I think that only 10 of the Hitler Youths were found alive when their position were finally over run. Now the Canadians are slouches on the Battlefield but these kids fought them back time and time again. Monty threw 1,000 tanks into one attack and lost 800 of them over all we lost 27.000 men trying take Caen if I remember rightly

Max Hastings book on Normandy was not too flattering about the British efforts at Caen.

A historian has all the use of hind sight. They can analyse the whole battle at a desk all safe and sound saying they should have done this or that. Now operation Goodwood did not go that well but by then the Germans were around Caen in force. There were 9 German Division in Normandy at this time and 6 of those were around Caen

Originally Posted by errol

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Arch.../msg00200.html

Churchill had no issues with the Australian fighting ability but believed they were trouble off the battlefield (not alone there). He had some big issues with the Australian Government during WW2. See above link.

My recent reading of Gilbert's book on Churchill has increased my admiration for this truly great person.

Hey All.

It's the other way around.
Minzie, the Australian P/M during ww2 actually had big issues with Churchill, about the Singarpore defence and Churchill made a big mistake with the Grease project, but apart from that, he was a truely great leader.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by LeEnfield

A historian has all the use of hind sight. They can analyse the whole battle at a desk all safe and sound saying they should have done this or that. Now operation Goodwood did not go that well but by then the Germans were around Caen in force. There were 9 German Division in Normandy at this time and 6 of those were around Caen

The failure of any breakthrough at Goodwood should be blamed on the commanding officers in charge. From Montgomery right down to company captain's and Leutenants who should have known better to advance into an area without knowing where you are really going. Everytime I hear the word Goodwood, I get angry. It was all such a stupid waste of very fine men. Not to mention the armour. The Canadian Black Watch slaughter on Verrieres ridge especially irks me. I Know these things have happened and I wasn't even born yet but just once I'd like to see the brass get what they deserve. This was the operation where Simond's certainly proved to many Canadian soldiers that Monty was his mentor.