Bill Grant with a feather in his cap, but not just any old feather. It's an emblematic emu feather.

'The emu plume was first worn by members of the Queensland Mounted Infantry during Australian shearers' strike of 1891. Mounted troops were called to Gympie to keep the peace during the strike. It's said that when they were not on duty, the soldiers created a sport of plucking feathers from running emus to place in their hats. The unofficial uniform fashion spread throughout the Regiment.

By 1903, a hat adorned with a plume of emu feathers became part of the Commonwealth Mounted Forces uniform, recorded in the official dress manual from 1903 to 1912.

In 1915, during World War I, the Minister for Defence, Sir George Pearce, permitted all units of the Australian Light Horse to wear the plume. They called them 'Kangaroo feathers' at the time' (Source: ANZAC Portal, Department of Veterans' Affairs).

'Bill Grant' on the other hand was the mascot of the Royal Australian Naval College during it's early years, and was made famous, or infamous, in the scribblings of his owner 2IC Commander Duncan Grant, R.N., in the College Magazine pre-World War I. For example:

'Bill Grant’s Philosophy':
As a beauty I am not a star,
There are others more handsome by far;
My face – I don’t mind it,
For I am behind it, –
The people in front get the jar!

'A Billy-Do':
7 a.m. – Woke up quite chirpy. Jumped up on my Man’s bed to tell him all about it. And says “MAD” backward. Wonder why he talks like that? Sit on his chest.

7.1 a.m. – Sit in a corner and think. That boot was hard – one with nails in it.

7.10 a.m. Steward brings my bloke’s tea. I like the Steward, so do myself up intro a figure-of-eight, a clove-hitch and two round turns in front of him, and say good morning. Steward trips over me (confound him!) and I get my face full of hot tea. Am thrown out. Never mind – there are bones in my private cemetery. Dig up a nice mellow one, fine vintage, some aroma.

7.45 a.m. – Worry the newspaper boy.

7.46 a.m. – Worry the newspaper.

7.47 a.m. – Digest the news of the day. Sleep.

Forenoon. – Superintend my Man at work.

Afternoon. – Sleep – tired of working.

Evening. – Look after things generally.

Night. – Eat. Sleep. Snore. A heavy day. Tired out.

[Royal Australian Naval Collect Magazine, July 1913. Editor: CMDR Duncan Grant, R.N.]