The "Unofficial History of the A.I.F. - As Told by the Diggers Themselves" was a series that ran in the Smith's Weekly (Sydney) for 30 years and encompassed two world wars. It featured cartoons and stories contributed by returned soldiers about the war. The column helped reinforce the image of the Aussie "digger"; a good bloke, easy-going, with a healthy disrespect for authority.
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Wrong Date
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Wrong Date
Before dawn on Good Friday, 1916, Fritz sent over some extra heavy iron rations on the front line near Fleurbaix. "Stand-to" was called an hour earlier than usual in consequence.
Standing shivering at his post in the pouring rain, Smithy grumbled: "Blime, you'd think he'd take a tumble. It's Good Friday!"
Just then a Hun machine gunner began to spray the parapet bags.
"Good Friday!" snorted a Wimmera lad, with thoughts of home and duck. "That cranky cow thinks it's the fifteenth of February!"
— "18-point."
Source: Wrong Date (1924, September 13). Smith's Weekly (Sydney, NSW : 1919 - 1950), p. 25.
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