Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction - words from the big stoush: tracing the language of Australian soldiers -- 1. He earned his name as digger: Australian soldiers -- 2. Things are well up to putty here: life in the army -- 3. If the Kiwi King you're after: military hierarchy, bureaucracy and other sources of complaint -- 4. Alley at the toot: languages -- 5. Fritz was napoo: enemies and friends -- 6. The usual nightly strafe: trench and battlefield -- 7. Passing shrapnel corner: place names -- 8. The daily hate: weapons and the technology of war -- 9. Language of the air and sea: words of the Australian Flying Corps and Royal Australian Navy -- 10. Aussieland, the diggers' home sweet home: home and home front -- Conclusion - recording and remembering the language of the soldiers of the Great War -- Bibliography -- Word list.

This book illuminates Australian soldiers' voices, feelings and thoughts, through exploration of the words and language used during the Great War. It is mostly concerned with slang, but there were also new words that came into Standard English during the war with which Australians became familiar. The book defines and explains these words and terms, provides examples of their usage by Australian soldiers and on the home front that provides insight into the experiences and attitudes of soldiers and civilians, and it draws out some of the themes and features of this language to provide insight into the social and cultural worlds of Australian soldiers and civilians.