The National Gallery of Victoria states that the work is "recognised as an image that captured the spirit and character of the Australian soldier".

[1] The sitter for the portrait was Thomas Henry (Harry) Ivers, a sergeant with the 1st Signal Squadron of the Australian Light Horse.

When composing the work, Lambert deliberately set out to "created a new model for the military portrait" eschewing the heroic and dashing soldier on horseback.

The painting was intended to represent the typical Australian light horseman—mainly men from the farms, dairies and orchards across rural Australia.

Gullett wrote of the Australian lighthorseman: "So far as a distinctive type has been evolved it is … young men long of limb and feature, spare of flesh, easy and almost tired in bearing ...