"DIGGER" BIRDWOOD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14707, 7 June 1920, Page 8

"DIGGER" BIRDWOOD.

WITH HIS MEN AT SYDNEY. That General Sir "W. It. ("Digger") Birdwood is beloved by the Australian "Diggers" admits of no doubt, judging by the intimate and affectionate terms with which they greeted him upon his arrival at Sydney last month. As witness :

"I am glad to. have the chance of meeting 'you all again and seeing something of'you in your homes. It is what I came to Australia for, to see you and your relations." He held up a large drawing which had been sent to him on his -arrival atFremantle by the 28th Battalion. It represented a large hand being held out to a- little general,, and underneath were the words. "Put it there, old man." "There it is." said the general, "the great big hand c-f . the great !>ig-henrted 'Digger' that was held out to welcome me, and I thought to myself—'No man on earth would wish for a better welcome than that.' "

Responding to thunderous applause, General Birdwood commenced by a reference to what usually happened when a general visited the troops on the Western front.

"Well." he said, "do you want a spell for four days, or possibly three?" (Laughter). ~ A soldier: Give us a tip for the races, "Birdy."

General Birdwood .smiling) : I was [ just going to ask you for one.—(Great slaughter.) A Digger Artilleryman. General Birdwood: Artilleryman is not too bad. (Laughter.) "I am glad to meet you here," General Birdwood proceeded/ "I dare say some of .you who were at Bray remember I said that if I did not see you back in France I would see you in Australia."

The Diggers: "So you did, Birdy." ■> A soldier: "What do you think of our harbor. Birdy?" General Birdwood: "They haven'tgiven me a chance to see it yet. I hope to see it on Sunday morning." "Well, boys," he went on, "I think you all want to go to the races, and I'll go there, too." (Cheers.) As the General commenced to Walk over to his car to make a formal call on the Premier he was captured bv the assembled Diggers and "chaired." Fully fifteen minutes* elapsed before he was able to gain a seat in his- car, and it was t-hen uncertain whether he had managed to retain his cap. But when General Birdwood arrived at the Treasury steps to call on the Premier one of his staff, handed him his cap.