Lagalayg 2 [warrior]

In 2016, the Memorial appointed internationally renowned Badu Islander artist Alick Tipoti (b. 1974) as an Official War Artist to document the 51st Battalion in Far North Queensland and in August 2016, Alick visited C 'Charlie' Company.

This painting is the second of two panels that form a diptych, depicting a Torres Strait Islander in an upright stance, ready for the task ahead. Here, the Islander is a warrior of the 51st Battalion and he holds a Gagai (bow) and arrow and club. Tipoti drew inspiration for this painting from a well publicised photograph of soldiers from Charlie Company during World War II. Tipoti chose his colours "to represent the fir of the fighting spirits within our soldiers or warriors" (Alick Tipoti, 2018). The paintings pair, AWM2017.1430.7 depicts a warrior soldier, holding a Gagai (gun). Tipoti mentioned that it is "interesting, in our language, [that] the word 'Gagai' means both the gun and bow" (Tipoti, 2018).

Charlie Company is one of four companies from the 51st Far North Queensland Regiment based in the Torres Strait. The company plays an important role in protecting Australia's national borders that stretch between Cape York and Papua New Guinea. The nickname for the unit is 'Sarpeye' which literally translates to 'sharp-eye', and refers to the hunter-like instinct of the sea eagle which is the unit's totem.

A unique identity of Charlie Company is its military dance performers known as the Sarpeye Dance Troupe. Formed in the late 1980s. it remains the only contemporary Regional Force Surveillance dance troop to perform in the Australian Army. Their dances explore ideas about contemporary camaraderie and mateship, as well as pay homage to Islander heritage of the modern day soldier. Today they are performed in both private military gatherings as well as more publicly attended Australian Defence Force events.