Digger (soldier)
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Digger is a military slang term for primarily infantry soldiers from Australia and New Zealand. Evidence of its use has been found in those countries as early as the 1850s, but its current usage in a
Soldiers from the Australian Imperial Force in a trench at Lone Pine, during the Gallipoli Campaign, 1915
Tommy Atkins
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Tommy Atkins is slang for a common soldier in the British Army. It was well established during the nineteenth century, but is particularly associated with the First World War. It can be used as a term
Digger (soldier)
…Digger", the British tended to call the New Zealanders "Kiwis" and Australians "Diggers". The equivalent slang for a British soldier was "Tommy" from Tommy Atkins. Between 1998 and 2003, the term was used in the name of a team in the Victorian Football League, the Bendigo Diggers. This was partly in reference to…
"Tommies" from the Royal Irish Rifles in the Battle of the Somme's trenches during the First World War
A publicity photograph of "Tommy Atkins", a soldier of the 51st (Highland) Division, seated with a large doll in his arms, taken during the German offensive in Lys, 13 April 1918
Front cover of sheet music, pub 1893, for song "Private Tommy Atkins" composed by Samuel Potter (1851–1934) and Henry Hamilton (c. 1854 – 1918). Signed by baritone C. Hayden Coffin.