BIRDWOOD’S "DIGGERS."

Taihape Daily Times, 15 August 1919, Page 5

BIRDWOOD’S "DIGGERS."

GATHERING IN- LONDON. ~ GREAT TRUSTY GHILDREN; ” LONDON, July 19. Nine 11fi11c1red office-rs a.tt'ended General Bix'd\vood’s far-ew'ell dinner. Great enthusiasm was shown, but the heartiest cheers were reserved for some symp:ltlletie words from General Birdwood about “the Diggers”--those magnificent Diggers whom we all learnt tc. regard as such great, trusty children, so easy to lead if taken the right way, and so impossible to drive if taken wrong.

“They wcre"men who Rzomplctely repaid our trust_,” said General Es'il'dwood. “\Ve learnt to h'a.ve no secrets from them, and when shown why it was necessary they did the'impossiblc.”

General Birdwood regretted that many who deserved it went um-eward—--03., due ’to changes in units or officers’ dc»-atlas.

The whole gafhering paid a moving silonf tribute to the dead. “Never forget, boys,” said General Bird\.\'aod_. “that you’ve put A.r.srra.li::’.<' flag at the top of the nmst, Koep it there. Let the spirff of comradeship permeate your civil life and keep ‘those Digger pals you have mails. Keep your ‘iirilc and staunch Aus’r.v'-Miunsm, and put, national needs first] Aclmiral do R-Obcck said ‘.h;lt ‘(kc navy at Anzac wondered at “.10 Ernstra.‘li2.’s resourcefullless, adapatability and in‘tiativc.