As it's Anzac Day tomorrow I thought digger was a good word to highlight this week.
I probably should explain ANZAC as well.
Anzac Day is the 25th April and is the anniversary of Australian and New Zealand soldiers landing at Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915 during World War 1. ANZAC stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. It's the day we remember all Australian and NZ soldiers who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of Anzac, with it's qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice continues to have meaning and relevance to the Australian national identity. On Anzac day, ceremonies are held around the country at dawn to acknowledge the service of our veterans.
During the First World War the term digger became popular to describe the Australian soldier, because in France and Belgium they were continually digging trenches. Aussie soldiers are still referred to as diggers.
BP's father was in both the New Zealand Army and the Australian Army, not at the same time! Many years ago, when he was in the Australian Army he was in Hawaii for a military exercise. While he was there, his commanding officer, who shall remain nameless, was walking around the U.S. base. As U.S. soldiers saluted him when he walked past, the Aussie commanding officer would return the salute and say "G'day Digger". Apparently a completely natural thing to say in the Aussie Army. Unfortunately most of the U.S. servicemen had not heard the term "digger" and assumed he was saying something completely different. Suffice to say it nearly created an international incident!
Tomorrow is the 97th anniversary of ANZAC day
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| image from here |
Anzac Day is the 25th April and is the anniversary of Australian and New Zealand soldiers landing at Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915 during World War 1. ANZAC stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. It's the day we remember all Australian and NZ soldiers who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of Anzac, with it's qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice continues to have meaning and relevance to the Australian national identity. On Anzac day, ceremonies are held around the country at dawn to acknowledge the service of our veterans.
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| image from here |
During the First World War the term digger became popular to describe the Australian soldier, because in France and Belgium they were continually digging trenches. Aussie soldiers are still referred to as diggers.
BP's father was in both the New Zealand Army and the Australian Army, not at the same time! Many years ago, when he was in the Australian Army he was in Hawaii for a military exercise. While he was there, his commanding officer, who shall remain nameless, was walking around the U.S. base. As U.S. soldiers saluted him when he walked past, the Aussie commanding officer would return the salute and say "G'day Digger". Apparently a completely natural thing to say in the Aussie Army. Unfortunately most of the U.S. servicemen had not heard the term "digger" and assumed he was saying something completely different. Suffice to say it nearly created an international incident!
Tomorrow is the 97th anniversary of ANZAC day
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Marg, thanks for the translation. I always wondered about Oz. By the way, when and why are you moving? I have looked at old posts and still can't figure it out.
ReplyDeleteGreat explanation (maybe you should have been a teacher!!?) And a wonderful opportunity to remember...
ReplyDeleteWell done Marg
ReplyDeleteCheers
Good one, and very appropriate timing.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard the term digger before -- really interesting. Do things close down on Anzac day?
ReplyDeleteLovely post Marg...so beautifully done. I hope all the 'diggers' out there young and old get to salute there mates with a nice cold one and that all serving diggers overseas remain safe.
ReplyDeleteAlways good to remember.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the "digger" explanation too.x
Lest we forget
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post - Happy ANZAC Day!
ReplyDeleteHappy ANZAC day!
ReplyDeleteLove this, Marg! Thanks for the translation and Happy Anzac Day!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I did not know any of that. In Canada we have Remembrance Day on November 11 which is a similar remembrance I think. I did not know about the term digger either.
ReplyDeleteIn the US we have Veterans Day. I had not heard the term "diggers" before, but now I know. Hope you have/had a lovely Anzac day.
ReplyDeleteGood one Marg!! This is such a great tribute to Anzac Day. I have to say since you started Translation Tuesday I've been seeing Aussie words everywhere!! There's about a years worth of translating in Waltzing Matilda alone.
ReplyDeleteAs I get older I become more and more aware of the sacrifice made by our brave diggers so that we can enjoy the lifestyle we have today.
ReplyDeleteI watched some of the parade today and was so proud of those people.