six bob a day tourist
noun Australian historical, informal
An Australian serviceman of the First World War: whether you were a six bob a day tourist or a staff officer, the risk was the same...
- Three weeks and one day later, Oscar was on his way on the Seuvic, a happy and excited 'six-bob-a-day' tourist.
- Some in the Australian press were convinced that the men who joined the AIF would be nothing but 'six bob a day tourists'.
- For Australia, 416,809 men enlisted (about 13 per cent of the white male population) and 331,000 of them sailed overseas to be 'six-bob a day tourists' and to fight.
Origin
Early 20th century: with reference to the soldiers' daily rate of pay.