THE "BOSS DIGGER."

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1919, Page 6

THE "BOSS DIGGER."

BIRDWOOD'S FAREWELL TO THE ANZACS. MOVING SCENE IN FRANCE. An interesting account of how the Australians said farewell to General Birdwood on the occasion of his promotion has been forwarded by Sergeant W. L. Brewster, of the Australian School of Musketry, Tidworth, England, and formerly of Sandringliam. Sergeant Brewster, writing just after the signing of the armistice, says:—'! do hope that I am spared to take home some of the messages to the parents of some of our bovs. They have behaved splendidly. They have special characteristics of their own. Shall I tell you how they said farewell to General Birdwood when , he received promotion, "if anyone had told me that it would be possible for the 'Aussies' to love a man as they did, I would have laughed at tliem. They worshipped the ground he walked on. News came through that he had been promoted, and before leaving the boys he. would like to say farewell to them, Some of the regiments had to march several miles to the gathering place- Butlittle they eared for that. When they arrived at their destination there were all sorts of 'brass hats' there. The boys were formed up into what is known as a hollow square, with the platform in the centre. It was right dress and left dress for goodness knows how longThe lads were sick and tired of all this drilling and messing around. At last the sound of the motor was heard. 'He lia" arrived,' is passed around from rank to rank But not a move; they are disciplined now A little back every-. | body would have been craning his neck to get a view, but to-dav they stapd I steady and immovable, for they have j come to do him honor. He is a great man. but with his usual simplicity lie is alone, unattended by the usual staff. This is a great tribute to the boys, mil thev appreciate it. The general salute is given to him, and he mounts the dais. 'Come nearer, bovs' he says, and there is a, general stampede to get the nearest to him. Where are the straight, rank* now? Finished is the right and left dres? T>rii! movements are cut, out, for it is Distrer now to Digger: everv eye is upturned, and you could have heard a pin drop as, ?n a few words, lie said good-bve..- Kc told them of their fighting history, their brave deeds, their valor, of how he loved them, of how sorry he was to na.rt with them; but he. too, like them, had' to ohev orders. Then, with ♦•he tears streaming down his face, he said farewell to the iramest soldiers he had ever had the privilege of leading into action. Then pandemonium broke loo=e. A barrage was set up of solid cheers, the like of which T do not think had ever been heard before—certainly not in Franc?. Then he started to move off • but, the 'Aussies' would not. see him walk. No, be is seized and carried, hands high, everv soldier vicing with th« other to have the honor of carrying him to JLbla par» ihat oar it jreaelicd th«

boya want souvenirs; some try to take the staff flag from the front of his car; others tried to get the silver badge from his hat. But lie has been there before, and to their chagrin they found that everything was securely fastened, and there was no hope. He is placed on the car. and he moves off to the sounds of Australian honors, but the greatest one of all is on the back of his car. It is talked on, and it leads iike this—- ' Good-bye, Digger—the boss Digger.'"