Cavalry Commando with Owen Gun (Bruce "Slugger" L'Estrange)

Places
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

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

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.