Anzac Soldier: The Legacy of the Diggers
It’s impossible to discuss Anzac Day and the historic landings at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915, without acknowledging the significance of the “Diggers.” While the term “Digger” had been used in Australia and New Zealand since the mid-19th century, it wasn’t until the outbreak of World War I that it became widely associated with ANZAC soldiers.
Before World War I, “digger” was commonly used in Australia to describe miners, while in New Zealand, it referred to Kauri gum-diggers. The term also had historical ties to the Eureka Stockade Rebellion of 1854, where it was linked to those fighting for egalitarianism. During the Second Boer War (1899-1902), many Australian and New Zealand soldiers were former miners who earned a reputation for their ability to quickly construct dugout defenses, notably at the Battle of Elands River. This skill contributed to the adoption of the nickname “Diggers.”
The use of the term during the Gallipoli campaign is generally believed to have originated from a message sent by General Sir Ian Hamilton to General William Birdwood, the commander of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), on the evening following the landing at Anzac Cove. The postscript of his message read:
“You have got through the difficult business, now you have only to dig, dig, dig, until you are safe.”
At the time, both Australia and New Zealand were relatively young nations with limited exposure on the international stage. Their participation in World War I was seen as an opportunity to prove themselves, and this responsibility was shouldered by their young soldiers, who were known for their resilience, resourcefulness, and embodiment of the ANZAC spirit of “mateship.”
Despite the heavy casualties on both sides of the Gallipoli campaign and the eventual withdrawal of the ANZAC troops, the battles that took place on the Gallipoli Peninsula during World War I are deeply connected to the emergence of national identities in both countries. The qualities of endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humor, and mateship became synonymous with the word “Digger,” a term that remains an affectionate slang for Australian and New Zealand soldiers to this day.