'The Digger' is a key piece of the complex jigsaw puzzle that makes up The Australian'. But who is the Digger exactly, and what elements have gone into forging his spirit? Australian soldiers have had an impact in world conflicts far in excess of their numbers. Yet regardless of the circumstances, our Diggers' essential characteristics have remained constant. They've won acclaim for their fighting prowess and bravery, while retaining their larrikin spirit, their compassion and their strong sense of mateship. Those who fought in the trenches of Gallipoli, the Somme and Ypres have an immediate kinship with the Diggers who followed in their footsteps in North Africa and New Guinea, and later in Korea, Vietnam, East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. We are justifiably proud of the heritage that our Diggers have bequeathed us.