"Krztalizer" wrote in message
...
re PC versions of Gibson's dog ******
"Digger" sounds like how someone
would say the original name if they
had a touch of the sniffles...

"Digger" was an uncomplementary name for either dark-skinned or mixed race
folks in Australia, or at least it was in the past.

First time I've seen that version! More typical is this example:

From 'Anzacs at War: The Story of Australian and New Zealand Battles' John
Laffin (C)1965

"The term 'Digger' is not so easy to pin down. It became common among
Australian and New Zealand soldiers in France in 1917, but was probably in
use during 1916. Bean [Australian official historian] said that the word
evolved from the professional gum-diggers[1] of New Zealand. Many old
soldiers believe that the word came about as a natural result of their
trench-digging activities in France and Flanders [2]. Others claim that some
West Australian soldiers, gold-miners in civilian life, started the word on
its way. At one time it was slang expression for a plodder, which could make
it an apt term for an infantryman. Whatever its beginning, the word has a
much stronger connection with Australian soldiers than with New Zealanders,
who were more commonly known to allies and even to enemies as 'Kiwis'.[3]"

[1] the gum involved here is from the kauri tree. The gum was generally
recovered from swampy ground, hence the need to dig. Googling on 'kauri gum'
will find you lots of people eager to sell you examples, as well as a better
explanation.

[2] I've seen a claim that it was particularly linked with the WWI Maori
Pioneer Battalion.

[3] 'Enzeds' was also in use in WWI.


--
Errol Cavit | | "The Battle of Romani was the
decisive engagement of the entire Sinai and Palestine Campaign. Before
Romani British policy, strategy and tactics were all defensive, those of the
Turks were offensive. The stand of the 1st and 2nd Light Horse brigades and
the counter-attack of the New Zealanders reversed the situation." Anzacs at
War, J Laffin