Billzac

In December the word of the month from Oxford Australia is Billzac, a term for a typical Australian soldier. It was formed from Billjim and Anzac and first appeared in the newspapers in 1916.

Billjim, first recorded in 1898, was a term for typical man in the street. I have found an early use of the word through Trove digitised newspapers in the North Queensland Register of 13 March 1899.

The earliest mention of ANZAC I have found in a Trove search is 7 June 1915, when the Adelaide Register and other newspapers reproduced the text of a cable from Major-General Sir Ian Hamilton to the Minister for Defence, Mr Pearce:  "I received information from Anzac that enemy reinforcements had been seen advancing from Maidos towards Krithia. Consequently Gen. Birdwood arranged to attack the trenches in front of the Ginn's post at 10 p.m."

In Avoca, the term Anzac was used by the Avoca Mail in December 1915 in an advertisement for the programme of the Navarre annual races:

Advertisement for Navarre Annual Races appearing in the Avoca Mail of 21 December 1915.

The patriotically inspired names for the races in the programme for the Navarre meeting helped to distinguish it from a race meeting to be held at Lexton only  a few days before hand. Both meetings advertised that they would donate the proceeds to patriotic funds.

In November 1915 the Avoca Mail reported on hospitals at Anzac: at that time the term Anzac meant the place, not the soldier. The first reference in the Avoca press to Anzac as a term for a soldier was not until January 1916, in the Avoca Mail.

The word 'Billjim' appears only once in the Avoca Free Press in 1918. I have found no matches for 'Billzac'. Neither term shows up in a search of the Avoca Mail.


The Avoca Mail does not appear to use the term digger for soldier in the issues that have been digitised (all issues for 1915 through to the end of 1918). The term was used by Corporal Bob Harrowfield in a letter published by the Avoca Free Press on 28 September 1918:

We marched (?) leisurely along, and passed thousands of American troops. They are fine lads, very enthusiastic, and gave us a hearty greeting. There, is a very friendly feeling between us, despite chaffing by both sides. The American dislikes "Sammy, '' so we call him "Teddy," and he knows that "Digger" will always do us.

The Great War during December 1914 from an Avoca perspective

No men from the Avoca had been killed or wounded yet and the war seemed a long way away. Might the conflict actually bring the district some good? Wine growers thought so. The annual report of the Viticultural Society of Victoria pointed out that though exports had been held up by the first mobilisations, causing a glut of dry reds and whites on the local market, the 1914--15 French and German vintages would be greatly reduced. The British navy guarded the seas, and with space on steamers bound for Europe, there would be no difficulty meeting what would be a strong demand for Australian wines. Moreover, brandy imports had been interrupted by the war and this would increase local demand for the Australian product.

THE WINE INDUSTRY. (1914, December 5). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved December 26, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151624841

The war had been underway for four months and the slaughter in the trenches had begun, but the news from France seemed not to affect Avoca. Even so, the pupils of Avoca State School and their friends continued to help with with the war effort by making clothing for the soldiers.

No title. (1914, December 12). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved December 26, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151624280

 On Wednesday 16 December the students of the Avoca State School held a successful concert in aid of the Patriotic Fund. (No title. (1914, December 19). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved December 26, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151622756)

The Warrenmang correspondent of the Avoca Free Press reported on 19 December 1914 that Percy Tuck, formerly of the Avoca district but now with the Sydney Fire Brigade had enlisted. Percy Tuck enlisted on 26 November 1914. He had been born at Warrenmang and was 24 years old. He served with the 4th Battalion and on 1 May 1915 died of wounds received in action on Gallipoli. His death was reported in the Avoca Free Press on 26 June 1915:

Our Fallen Heroes. (1915, June 26). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved December 26, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151625228

No title. (1915, August 18). Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), p. 25. Retrieved December 26, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162494674

Further reading:

• Spirits of Gallipoli website http://www.spirits-of-gallipoli.com/project/result/TUCK-PC-1672.htm

Avoca Shire Council 30 September 1914

On 30 September 1914 the monthly meeting of the Avoca Shire Council was held at Moonambel. The proceedings were reported in the Avoca Free Press of Saturday 3 October 1914.

Among the items of correspondence considered was an item from the British Empire Trade League.

The Shire Councils were used throughout the war for communication and exhortation about the war effort and related matters.

An invitation from the Borough of Ararat to support another patriotic fund was rejected.

The council considered the level of rates and elected to reduce them due to the drought and the war. The discussion mentioned the possibility of a war tax.

Grand Patriotic Ball at Lamplough on 11 September 1914

The Grand Patriotic Ball at Lamplough was advertised on 9 September in the Avoca Free Press and held on Friday 11 September 1914.

Advertising. (1914, September 9). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved September 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151623123

There was a brief report of the ball in the Avoca Free Press of 16 September.

No title. (1914, September 16). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151625353

When the Avoca and District Patriotic Fund met later in the month, J. Curtis was present representing the community of Lamplough, and Lamplough was reported as contributing £3 13s 6d towards the district grand total of more than £300 raised overall. (AVOCA AND DISTRICT PATRIOTIC FUND. (1914, September 23). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151622483)

The Avoca and District Patriotic Fund had been formed at a meeting on 18 August. A committee was formed with the purpose of raising funds towards the Victorian Patriotic Fund organised for the relief of the troops. The Patriotic Fund was formed in Melbourne on 8 August by the Lord Mayor to enable men to do their duty without anxiety for their families. 

At the meeting on 18 August at Avoca, Councillor Paten was appointed chairman with Councillors Samers and Thomas as Vice-Chairmen; Mr J. H. Deeble was appointed secretary.

The following  ladies and gentlemen were appointed to the committee: — Mesdames A Snell, Brown, E Paten, Chandler, Samers, C Reed, J Reid, Currie, Robinson, Wood, Classen, Thomas, B Snell, Chellew, Deeble, A F Paten, Stavely, Hardy, Johnson, Misses Johns (2) and Grimmer, Messrs G T Wood,  J H Moyle, J Chandler, A G Cust, S G Mitchell, R Stavely, F Knuckey, A G Lalor, G. Downton, J C Wilson, A Wilson, J H Benjamin, J Hempseed, Jno Mackereth, A C: Henderson, C Wolfe, T Simmons, B D Snell, W F Hardy, A Ahpee, W M Chellew, F Wiltshire, Revs. Robinson, Reed and Currie, and Drs Johnson and Grimmer. (The War. (1914, August 22). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151623260)

Subscriptions were collected the following week, raising more than £50. The Australian Womens' National League (AWNL) made a contribution and also donated thirteen dozen handkerchiefs. Progress was reported in both local newspapers and also the Ballarat Courier.

ACTION IN COUNTRY. (1914, August 26). The Ballarat Courier (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 4 Edition: DAILY.. Retrieved August 25, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73317026

AVOCA AND DISTRICT PATRIOTIC FUND. (1914, August 26). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151621949

The £300 raised by the Avoca and District Patriotic Fund by mid September can be put in some perspective compared to the funds raised at the 1914 football semi final between South Melbourne and Carlton. More than 20,000 attended the MCG and the gate takings were £863 of which £252 went to the Patriotic Fund. (No title. (1914, September 23). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151622490)