August 1942: five officers of the 2/14th Bn, 21st Bde. pose at Uberi at the beginning of the Kokoda track.
Even this early in the Papuan campaign officers were carrying rifles and removing rank badges to confuse enemy snipers; nevertheless, all five of would become casualties in the succeeding months, and only Lt. Mason (second from right) would survive 1942.
(Australian War Memorial P00525.006)