[Editor: This article was published in Aussie: The Cheerful Monthly (Sydney, NSW), 15 April 1920.]
Dipping the badge.
There seems to be a tendency among some over-sensitive Diggers to dip the badge. Their reason is that some men are disgracing it — which is a reason without reason. A Digger cobber of the writer’s has never put his badge on because immediately on his arrival home civvie friends had told him of the disgraceful behaviour of the returned men! The Digger who is ashamed of his badge should be ashamed of himself. He should wear it proudly, and by his behaviour do something towards counteracting the bad effect made by the wasters who disgrace it.
Most of the unsavoury stories about Diggers are being invented and spread by slackers, who want to induce the Digger to take down his badge for obvious reasons, and the imitation patriot among employers, who doesn’t want to let the public see how very few Diggers he has in his employ.
One good Sydney retail firm forces its employees to wear the badge whilst at work. It’s up to other good Aussie firms that are giving the Digger a fair deal to do the same. It will be a good guide to customers.
Source:
Aussie: The Cheerful Monthly (Sydney, NSW), 15 April 1920, p. 13
Editor’s notes:
civvie = an abbreviation of “civilian”
Digger = an Australian soldier (a slang word which originated during World War One); in later usage, may also refer to a friend or mate
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