Tanks and infantry, Aitape, New Guinea

Place Oceania: New Guinea1, Aitape
Accession Number ART22151
Collection type Art
Measurement Framed: 62.8 x 57.5 cm x 5.5 cm; Unframed: 45.5 x 40.5 cm
Object type Painting
Physical description oil on canvas on plywood
Maker Mainwaring, Geoffrey
Place made New Guinea1: Aitape
Date made 1945
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Mainwaring completed many portraits of Australian military personnel and illustrations of military technology while attached to the 6th Division in New Guinea. This painting features a Matilda tank identified by its Arm-of-Service (AoS) sign, above the rear mud guard, as belonging to the 2/4th Armoured Regiment.

The 2/4th Armoured Regiment had been deployed to Madang in August 1944. There is was sent in squadron elements to support Australian Infantry Units fighting the Japanese during the Aitape-Wewak campaign on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. By November 1944 C Squadron was supporting the 6th Division at Wewak.