The Diggers

Since that moment in April 1915 when troops of the Australian Imperial Force splashed ashore on a remote stretch of Turkish coastline, the 'Digger' has dominated Australian folklore. In this book the exploits of those who created the Digger legend are recounted. The focus is firmly on who the diggers actually were - whether in army, navy or air force - and on telling the story of a proud and distinctive military tradition through the lives of the many men and women who helped to forge the reputation of Australians as first-class soldiers. We see a sample of the outstanding achievements of Australians at war, both in the colonial period and in the cataclysm of 1914-18, and we gain an insight into what war meant to these people and to a new country.