Studio portrait of Honore (Henri) 'Digger' Heremene, an orphaned French boy adopted by 4 Squadron ...

Studio portrait of Honore (Henri) 'Digger' Heremene, an orphaned French boy adopted by 4 Squadron AFC as their mascot. He is dressed in a specially tailored AIF uniform paid for by the members of the squadron. Note the stripes denoting four years service on his right sleeve and the wound stripe on his left sleeve. Digger was smuggled into England in an oat sack. He returned to Australia with 4 Squadron and was formally adopted by Private Timothy (Tim) Tovell who had been an air mechanic with the squadron. On the back of the postcard is written: Here is Digger as he appears in England, it cost the Squadron 15 pounds for his outfit and he looks some boy. He is an intelligent little fellow and can tell many tales of the hardships of war. I am in charge of him and have to act as father. What a record for a child so young. He says his age is eleven, but he is so small he looks about nine. He has been in service since September 1914. The Royal Artillery rescued him in the retreat from Mons, and he has been with all sorts of troops since but says 'The Aussies will do him for a quiet life'.