“Dinky Di” is the traditional Australian song, but the composer of the song was unknown.

A popular World War I song sometimes called Horseferry Road.

What the words mean

• Horseferry Road ~ London location of the Australian Army Headquarters.
• Dinky Di ~ slang for something that is true, honest, or genuine. Dinky Di is still used today.
• VC ~ Victoria Cross is the highest award given to members of the armed forces for valour in the face of the enemy.
• Lord Gort ~ Field Marshal John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort. (Yes, that’s his complete title.) He was a British soldier who served in both WWI and WWII.
   
  Gort was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1918 for his heroic actions at the Battle of Canal du Nord in France.

He came over to London and straight away strode,
To army headquarters in Horseferry Road,
To see all the bludgers who dodge all the strafe,
By getting soft jobs on the headquarters staff.
   Dinky di, dinky di,
   By getting soft jobs on the headquarters staff.

A lousy lance-corporal said, “Pardon me, please,
You’ve mud on your tunic and blood on your sleeve,
You look so disgraceful the people will laugh,”
Said the lousy lance-corporal on the headquarters staff.
   Dinky di, dinky di,
   Said the lousy lance-corporal on the headquarters staff.

The digger then shot him a murderous glance;
He said: “We’re just back from the balls-up in France,
Where bullets are flying and comforts are few,
And brave men are dying for bastards like you.”
   Dinky di, dinky di,
   And brave men are dying for bastards like you.”

“We’re shelled on the left and we’re shelled on the right,
We’re bombed all the day and we’re bombed all the night,
And if something don’t happen, and that pretty soon,
There’ll be nobody left in the bloody platoon;
   Dinky di, dinky di,
   There’ll be nobody left in the bloody platoon.”

This story soon got to the ears of Lord Gort,
Who gave the whole matter a great deal of thought,
He awarded the digger a VC and two bars,
For giving that corporal a kick up the arse;
   Dinky di, dinky di,
   For giving that corporal a kick up the arse.

Now when this war’s over and we’re out of here,
We’ll see him in Sydney town begging for beer.
He’ll ask for a dina to buy a small glass,
But all he’ll get is a kick in the arse.
   Dinky di, dinky di,
   But all he’ll get is a kick in the arse.