Gallipoli ANZAC Infantry Forces Squad (Gallipoli Campaign, 1915) WWI – Custom Printed Brick Block Figure

Group Identification: WWI ANZAC Forces (Gallipoli Campaign, 1915)

This image displays a squad of three Custom Printed Brick Block Figures representing soldiers of the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) during World War I. Specifically, this trio brilliantly illustrates the evolution and improvisation of the Australian “Digger” combat uniforms during the grueling, scorching summer of the 1915 Gallipoli Campaign.

Here is a detailed, one-by-one breakdown from left to right:

1. The Left Figure: ANZAC Infantryman (Bandolier Variant)

• Specific Name: WWI ANZAC Infantryman (Bandolier & Flannel Variant)

• Visual Details: * Head & Face: He wears the iconic brown felt Slouch Hat and features a heavily stubbled face, depicting the exhausted reality of trench life.

  • Uniform: He has discarded his heavy wool tunic in favor of a breathable, light blue collarless flannel undershirt.

  • Tactical Gear: His defining feature is the diagonal brown leather ammunition bandolier draped across his chest. This was highly favored by both infantry and the Australian Light Horse for carrying .303 rifle clips. He wears standard khaki trousers and printed cloth puttees (leg wraps).

2. The Middle Figure: ANZAC Infantryman (Shorts Variant)

• Specific Name: WWI ANZAC Infantryman (Improvised Shorts Variant)

• Visual Details:

  • Head & Face: Crowned with the Slouch Hat, this figure features a shouting, open-mouthed expression with a mustache, looking as though he is in the middle of a trench charge.

  • Uniform & Gear: Like the first figure, he wears the light blue flannel undershirt. However, he is equipped with standard leather infantry suspenders (braces) featuring detailed front ammunition pouches.

  • The Shorts: His defining feature is his lower body. To combat the extreme heat, his khaki trousers have been historically modified—cut down into shorts. You can see the printed white band of his undergarments or socks before transitioning into the standard boots and puttees.

3. The Right Figure: ANZAC Sharpshooter / NCO (Full Tunic Variant)

• Specific Name: WWI ANZAC Sharpshooter / NCO (Khaki Tunic Variant)

• Visual Details:

  • Head & Face: Wearing the Slouch Hat, this figure has a more composed, veteran expression with a distinct mustache and a facial scar.

  • Uniform: Unlike the other two, he has retained his full, regulation khaki battledress tunic. The tunic features fully printed pockets, buttons, and a prominent blue square shoulder patch on his left arm, which was historically used to identify specific battalions or brigades.

  • Tactical Gear: He wears the same leather infantry suspenders and pouches as the middle figure, worn over his tunic, paired with standard full-length khaki trousers and puttees.

Historical Background: The Legend of the “Digger”

The Gallipoli Campaign (April 1915 – January 1916) took place on a rugged peninsula in the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey). It was a defining moment in the national identities of both Australia and New Zealand.

• The Heat and the Uniform: When the ANZACs arrived, they were equipped with heavy British-style wool uniforms. As the Mediterranean summer intensified, the heat in the trenches became unbearable, leading to severe logistical and health crises.

• Improvisation: In response, ANZAC soldiers famously threw military dress regulations out the window. As seen in the left and middle figures, men stripped down to their undershirts and cut their pants into shorts just to survive the heat.

• The Birth of the ANZAC Spirit: This rugged, anti-authoritarian, and highly practical aesthetic—men fighting in slouch hats, suspenders, and shorts—became the enduring cultural image of the Australian soldier. They became affectionately known as “Diggers,” renowned for their resilience, bravery, and unbreakable camaraderie (“mateship”) under devastating fire.