non-fictionOverview of Australian pioneer aviators , circa 1965lawrence hargrave, bert hinkler, charles kingsford smith, p.gordon taylor, raymond parer, j.c.mcintosh, ross & keith smith, charles ulm

Small statuette depicting an Australian serviceman assisting a wounded comrade. The statuette depicts a scene from a famous moving film taken in New Guinea during World War 2 by Australian War Correspondent, Damien Peter Parer who was attached to the Australian Military Forces. The statuette is made from Pewter and is mounted on a stained wooden base. The following text statement is copied from the AWM website and describes the image in further detail: During the advance on Salamaua VX89711 Sergeant Gordon Raymond Charles Ayre MM, a 58/59th Battalion bandsman from Shepparton, Victoria, in pouring rain assists a wounded mate, VX132355 Private William Oswald Wallace Johnson, of the same unit, across Alan's (Allen's?) Creek to an advanced regimental aid post. Johnson had been wounded by a Japanese grenade on the 13th of July 1943 during an attack on the "coconuts" area. Sergeant Ayre was awarded the military medal for his performance during this action. This is one of the iconic images of the Second World War. (Still from AWM film F01866 "Assault on Salamaua", newsreel by Damien Parer)The wooden base has a label which is inscribed with the following: "MATES" Heritage Fine Arts, Limited Edition