Places | |
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Accession Number | ART24381 |
Collection type | Art |
Measurement | framed: 66 cm x 50 cm |
Object type | Painting |
Physical description | oil on cardboard |
Maker |
Mainwaring, Geoffrey |
Place made | New Guinea1 |
Date made | 1944 |
Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain This item is in the Public Domain |
Cavalry Commando with Owen Gun (Bruce "Slugger" L'Estrange)
Description
Portrait depicting Bruce Maitland "Slugger" L'Estrange (NX171438) MM, 2/6th Australian Cavalry Commando Regiment, sitting holding an Owen gun. The 2/6th commandoes were engaged in patrol operations in the Aitape area, New Guinea. L'Estrange is depicted here wearing characteristic bandana and a boar's tusk around his neck. A skull has been painted on the ground just behind L'Estrange's right leg, as a momento mori. In 1999 L'Estrange donated his hand guns to the Memorial. In a letter, he said he carried them always during the war because he never intended to surrender and wanted to be prepared in case he was wounded/captured.