AUSTRALIAN “DIGGERS.”

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18807, 1 December 1932, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN “DIGGERS.”

DON’T WANT NEW NAME. EX-SERVICE MEN. Should the time-honoured and battle-scarred term "Digger” be replaced by the more conventional "ExService Man?" _\t its general meeting (says a Sydney paper) the Rose Bay branch of the R.S.S.I.E.A. passed a resolution deprecating Hie 100 general use ol‘ the. word "Digger" when referring to members of the League, and suggested that it be replaced by "Ex-Service Man.” Mr C. Fyke, who supported Mtj resolution, said that there were many Imperial ex-service men in Australia, and the use of the word "Digger" made them feet that returned soldier organisations here wanted only Australians. ‘‘Absolute Bunk I" “Absolute bunk!" said Mr J. J. Murray. "The word ‘Digger’ Is a tradition, and is hound up with the history of the A.I.F. There has never been any objection to It, and It would b 3 a pity to see the word go. "Anyway, I’m proud to be called a 'Digger.’ " The president of the Returned Soldiers’ League (Mr L. A. Robb) said that a tradition would be lost if the word went. "It has grown up with the A.I.F. and ’Digger’ Is to the Australian what ‘Tommy’ Is to the British soldier." The rank and file of returned men were indignant when it was suggested to them that they should he called "Ex-Service Men." ■'ll was a respected name during ] the war. 'so why should it he wiped I out now?" asked one. j