This soldier is Pte Lake, a 41-year-old kangaroo-hunter turned sniper, with 2/5th Independent Coy in Papua, August 1942.
Of note is his bandolier and half-stocked cut-down SMLE rifle which were considered unorthodox. Notable among many smaller AIF units created were ‘Independent Companies’, which initially followed a British model; each consisted originally of 273 other ranks and 17 officers. In 1943 the divisional cavalry regiments were remodelled as Cavalry(Commando) Regts, comprising Cavalry (Commando) Sqns - later simply Commando Squadrons. Australians impressed their enemies with their marksmanship, but snipers seldom received specialist
equipment, and were under-used in the jungle. (Australian War Memorial 013155)