Geoffrey Mainwaring 1944 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 animal tooth around his neck. A scull 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 prepared in case he was wounded/captured.
