Men of the Desert Rats


Men from K Battery, 5 RHA, with an improvised oven made out of old Ammunition boxes, cooking in the desert, September 1942. L - R: Bdr Colin Tovey (TOSKA), L/Bdr Lesley Vince, L/Bdr Bob Lerche (JOCK). Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes			Another of the men from K Battery, 5 RHA, with an improvised oven, cooking in the desert, September 1942. L - R: Colin Tovey (TOSKA), Arthur Rose (Mary), Harry Dormer, Jim Cromley, Lesley Vince, Eric Smith, Bob Lerche(Jock). Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes

The Troop Leader's Half Track from 'C' Troop, CC Battery, 5 RHA, (as denoted by the TLC markings) near St Joost in early 1945. Courtesy of James and David Allen. (NB. 5 RHA used TLA and TLB for G Battery, TLD and TLE, for K Battery and TLA C and TLH for CC Battery)			The rear of the Troop Leader's Half Track from 'C' Troop, CC Battery, 5 RHA, (as denoted by the TLC markings) near St Joost in early 1945. Courtesy of James and David Allen.

Sextons, Half-tracks and an Armoured Ammunition Truck in the field, from K Battery 5th RHA. Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes.			Sexton from K Battery, 5th RHA. Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes.

A Sexton SPG and Creew from K Battery, 5th RHA.		Sexton 5 RHA Europe 1944, named Bubbles III, from 'B' Troop, 'G' Battery (Mercers Troop). NB. It is the '76' below the Divisional TAC sign, above the drivers hatch, which denotes that it as a Sexton from 5th RHA		5th RHA Sexton from K Battery, in action near Sittard.

Men of CC Battery in Sains en Gohelle, France 1944			AOP Cromwell, Hollenstadt, Germany 1945

K Battery AOP Cromwell and crew 29th November 1994. (James Allen is second from right). Courtesy of James Allen & David Allen..			K Battery Sexton called 'Dagwood'.

Sexton 5 RHA Europe 1944, from 'H' Troop, 'CC' Battery. NB. It is the '76' below the Divisional TAC sign, above the drivers hatch that denotes it as 5 RHA. The 'H' above denotes the troop which is different to normal practice. Courtesy of William Parfitt & Mark Smith.			Another Sexton from 'H' Troop, CC Battery, showing the compartment cover and the various items stowed above the engine

Men from the Light Aid Detachment for 5 RHA, Holland December 1944. Courtesy of William Parfitt & Mark Smith			Haltrack 'F1' with Articifiers sign above the cab from the Light Aid Detachment for 5 RHA, Holland December 1944. Courtesy of William Parfitt & Mark Smith.

Men from CC Battery (most likely from 'H' Troop), 5 RHA, Europe 1944 or 1945, with a well laden lorry behind them. Courtesy of William Parfitt & Mark Smith.			Men from CC Battery (most likely from 'H' Troop), Hamburg 1945. Courtesy of William Parfitt & Mark Smith.

Sexton of Sub-section H, 'H' Troop, CC Battery, 5th RHA, denoted by the HH on the AoS. Photograph from Leonard Smith, courtesy of his family.			Picture of same Sexton S234682, showing the CC Battery badge on the side. Photo Leonard Smith and courtesy of his family.

OP Cromwell from H Troop, CC Battery. 5 RHA somewhere in Germany 1945. Behind it is the same Sexton as in top right, second row down S233704. Photograph from Leonard Smith, courtesy of his family.			H Troop, CC Battery, 5th RHA somewhere in Germany in 1945. Note AOP Cromwell in the foreground and Sextons behind it, some with their covers in place. Photo Leonard Smith and courtesy of his family.

The A2 Ammunition Lorry from H Troop, CC Battery, 5 RHA, complete with armour. This is in the background of the above right Troop photo. Photo Leonard Smith and courtesy of his family.			Two men from H Troop, CC Battery, 5 RHA probably in 1945. Photo Leonard Smith and courtesy of his family.

A member of H Troop, CC Battery, 5 RHA probably in 1945. Photo Leonard Smith and courtesy of his family.			Men of CC Battery, 5 RHA enjoying a 'picnic' probably in 1945. Photo Leonard Smith and courtesy of his family.


The crew of a Sexton from H Troop, CC Battery, 5 RHA, preparing for the Victory Parade in July 1945. Second from left in the photo is Leonard Smith and the photograph is courtesy of his family.	Two of the same crew in a less formal pose before the Victory Parade in July 1945. Photo Leonard Smith and courtesy of his family.				Men of K Battery, 5th RHA at the Olympic Stadium, Berlin 1945. Top Left: Sgt (Dodger) Green, Top Right: Bdr Colin Tovey (Toska), Bottom Left: L/Bdr Johnny Gallon, Bottom Right: Sgt Guy Lewis. Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes


Men of K Battery, 5 RHA, before the Berlin Victory Parade. Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes.			Men of K Battery, 5 RHA, relaxing on some logs before the Berlin Victory Parade. Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes.

More men of K Battery, 5 RHA, before the Berlin Victory Parade. Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes.			Sextons and Half-tracks probably from K Battery, 5 RHA, before the Berlin Victory Parade. Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes.

The Troop Leader's Half Track from 'E/F' Troop, K Battery, 5 RHA, (as denoted by the TLC marking) before the Berlin Victory Parade. Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes.			'Jock' (Rob) Lerche with his Sexton and some of the crew, K Battery, 5 RHA, before the Berlin Victory Parade. Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes.

Men from K Battery, 5th RHA beside a Sexton. Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes.			Men from K Battery, 5th RHA beside a Half-tracks and Sextons during the Berlin Victory Parade 1945. Courtesy of 'Jock' (Rob) Lerche (K Bty) and Barry Forbes.

A group of recently liberated Belgiums with a Sexton of G Battery. Courtesy of Albert Burnikell and his son Bryan Burnikell			The crew of a Sexton from G Battery, with Albert Burnikell in the rear left. Courtesy of Albert Burnikell and his son Bryan Burnikell

CC Bty Mess Queue. My father is fourth from the left, so this is probably Battery HQ.			Men from CC Battery HQ. My father Dvr/Op Alex Paterson is second the right.
Men from CC Battery HQ in the snow by a AOP Cromwell, clearly showing the CC Bty Badge, with a local. This is in Hingenderstraat in Sint Joost the Netherlands in late 1944 or early 1945. My father is in the leather Jerkin, smoking a pipe. L-R Gnr Ronald Hobbs (G Bty), Mia de Brouwer, Gnr Alexander Paterson (CC Bty), unknown

3rd Royal Horse Artillery	4th Royal Horse Artillery	5th Royal Horse Artillery
8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars	11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own)	Queen's Royal Regiment
1st Bn. Rifle Brigade	1st Royal Tank Regiment	2nd Royal Tank Regiment
3rd Royal Tank Regiment	5th Royal Tank Regiment	6th Royal Tank Regiment
4th South Africa Armoured Car Regiment		15th (Isle of Man) Light Anti-aircraft Regiment
4th County of London Yeomanry	65th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment	3rd Support Company, Northumberland Fusiliers
Divisional HQ	22nd Armoured Brigade HQ	22nd Armoured Brigade REME

2 pdr Portee Crew resting by their vehicle (The man in the middle is Thomas Drury)	Distributing the water ration. This was 2 pints per man per day. Note cloth RHA Titles on the Sergeants epaulettes.

Enjoying a warm by the fire.	AOP Stuart, rather badly packed by the side of the road.

3RHA J Battery Sub-Section E. Note the RHA badge on the shield and the letter E.	RHA J Battery Sub-Section F. Note the RHA badge on the shield and the letter F

3RHA J Battery Sub-Section G. Note the RHA badge on the shield and the letter G.	3RHA J Battery Sub-Section H. Note the RHA badge on the shield and the letter H.

Probably the same gun crews as above, but this time in overalls working on the guns.



3RHA on parade after the end of the N African Campaign in Tunisia, 1943.	Another photo of 3RHA on parade after the end of the N African Campaign in Tunisia, 1943.

Officers of J Battery, probably after the end of the N African Campaign in Tunisia, 1943.
Resting by the beach. Probably near Homs before going to Italy.	Resting by the beach. Probably near Homs before going to Italy.

Quad Tractor, probably in Italy	25 pdr on tow, probably in Italy

Loading a HQ truck ready for Normandy.	Part of the Normandy Armada.

Onboard the LCT	Onboard the Landing Ship, with smalled landing craft alongside.

A ship on the way to Normandy.	Unloading the HQ Vehicle in Normandy. The the background between the wheels there is an AA tower on a Mulberry Harbour.

Battery command post map table.	Other end of Command Post vehicle.

A Bridge not for crossing!	Pontoon Bridge

Divisional HQ Jeeps crossing ther bridge.	One of the Division's command vehicles crossing ther bridge. I believe this is ACV1. ACV1 was described as 'G' - controlling the hour by hour direction of battle tactics

Triple 20mm Polsen AA team guarding the bridge.	Jeep somewhere in Europe, clearly showing the Gothic J Battery badge.

With a Division HQ vehicle behind it (AoS 40), No 5 command vehicle, denoting Divsional REME, stuck in some mud. The Divisional Artillery vehicle was No 3.

2pdr Anti-Tank Gun from J Battery 3 RHA mounted Portee in 1941.		The men of 3rd RHA being inspected by Montgomery in 1945

25 pdr of D Bty, 3rd RHA in action near Boissey, August 1944.		Commanding Officers AOP Sherman in Normandy. Note Z on the hull denote CO's Tank.

M Battery HQ Vehicle. The H denotes it as being the vehicle of the Command Post Officer.		Quad Tractor from 3 RHA. The Letter A denotes it as being the tractor for the first gun in the senior troop of D Battery.

A 25 pdr Gun and crew from 3 RHA near Stramproy December 1944.
Battery Commanders AOP Sherman from M Battery, 3rd RHA	Battery Commanders AOP Sherman from M Battery, 3rd RHA. The Gothic M is visiable on the turret.		Battery Commanders AOP Sherman called Pegasus IV, from M Battery, 3rd RHA. The Gothic M is clearly shown on the turret.

1941	1942		Gun and Limber in Tow

25pdr Gun, Limber and Crew, from 4th RHA ready for action in 1941.	Men from 4th RHA digging a gun pit, while the 25pdr Gun, Limber and Quad Tractor wait in the background.		Quad Tractor, Limber and 25pdr gun, of 4th RHA, on the move in 1942.

Officers Mess of F (Sphinx) Bty, 4th RHA, Ben Yussif Camp, 1941		A gun detachment from C Battery, 4th RHA enjoy a 'wash and brush up' while with 'August' Column in the desert south of Mersa Matruh, 1942


Walter Archer and his best friend Arthur, on joining G Battery. (We believe Arthur was Gnr Green AW)		Chiltion Foliat 1941	Colemans Hatch 1941 (Rear Row, Right is Albert Burnikell)

Front of the Waterloo Day Card from 1942		Inside of the Waterloo Day Card from 1942

G Battery Christmas Card 1941 (Front)	G Battery Christmas Card 1941 (Inside)
North Africa 1942 and 1943

'B' Sub-Section having a meal at "Bare Ridge"	'B' Sub-Section having a meal in action stations at El Alamein			'B' Sub-Section waiting to fire.

Men of 'C' Sub-Section feeling browned off at Alamein Jack, Frank and Sam.	Walter Archer doing maintenance on a Browning .30 cal Machine Gun

Jack giving 'Roth' (Sgt Rothwell) a shave	Frankie Shaw having a rub down while in action. at "Bare Ridge"			Sappers checking a minefield at El Alamein

'A' Troop Command Post, at El Alamein. Lieut. Noble and 'Busty' Mac (or Mea)	C Sub-section in action 26th October 1942. The Gun Layer is Walter Archer. The 25 pdr is in full recoil.			Frankie Shaw, with a captured German 88mm Anti-tank gun after El Alamein

Battery Christmas Card 1942 (Front)		G Battery Christmas Card 1942 (Inside)

A captured Italian tank being towed to the rear.	Men of G Bty, Libya 1942			Christmas Dinner 1942, somewhere north of Marble Arch

	B Sub-section looking a bit fed up, Agheila 1943			C Sub-section and Quad

A Sherman tank moves past a Quad, Limber and Gun, after contact with the enemy ahead.	Quad and some of the men of C Sub-section waiting to go into action. Libya 1943 Archer, Grimshaw and Armitage			'Desert Rats All'. C Sub-Section, Libya 1943



Bartering for eggs with their spare kit on the way to Tunis 1943	Radio Operators at Homs, 1943

Italy 1943

Men from G Battery on peak above Montigina, Italy 1943	Men inspecting the Ruins of Montigina, Italy 1943			Battery Sergeant Major (BSM) Leonard Lungley, Italy 1943

Two picture of the pontoon bridge across the River Volturno Italy. 7th November 1943				G Battery moving through the village of Cancello, Italy 7th November 1943

More of the Village of Cancello, 7th November 1943. NB. The A1 denotes the Battery's Ammunition truck.	Fitters at work in Italy, 1943i			Men of Battery HQ, Italy 1943

On a tour of Pompeii		Some of the 'boys' from G Battery, Italy 1943	5 RHA, including G Battery on Parade. Italy 1943

G Battery Christmas Card 1943 (Front)	G Battery Christmas Card 1943 (Inside)
Northwest Europe 1944 and 1945

View from the back of the Sexton of C Sub-section of the LST they had just landed from on 7th June 1944, D+1	View of the LST C Sub-section had landed from with another alongside, on Gold Beach, 7th June 1944, D+1			C Sub-section, France 9th June 1944, near Tilly-Sur-Seulles. L/Bdr Archer wearing captured German cap in back row.

C Sub-section, France 12th June 1944	C Sub-section, 22nd September 1944 at Eindhoven Park			'A' Troop, with some local people in Eindhoven Park 22nd September 1994. Many of C Sub-section are in this photo, along with Albert Burnikell, rear right.

A Glider at Eindhoven from Operations Market-Garden, 2nd October 1944	Standing to, at Twilight, just before commencing fire 10 minutes later.			Lieut V. J. Syborn and Lieut D. G. Rawson, October 1944. Note G Battery cypher on the side of the Sexton

Gun Position in Oasteind near Oudendosch 10th November 1944. The closest Sexton is probably B Sub-section and the furthest A Sub-section	The Battery passing through Tilburg on the way to a new position November 1944.			Making Tea on the march, outside Geel (Gheel)
The below are a very unique set of photographs of a complete Gun Crew from November 1944

Sgt Cyril Rothwell (known as 'Roth'), 16th November 1944, He was the Sub-section Commander (No. 1)	Gnr (Dvr) 'Dodger' Green, the Driver, 16th November 1944			Gnr "Dick" Jennings, the Loader, 16th November 1944

Gnr (Dvr/Op) Brett, the Wireless Operator & Co-Driver, 16th November 1944	Bdr Tommy Farr, 2 IC (No. 6) of the Sub-section, 16th November 1944			Jimmy Benge, the 'Bonaza' Cook, 16th November 1944

L/Bdr Walter Archer, Gun Layer, 16th November 1944	Left to Right: Sgt Cyril Rothwell, Bdr Tommy Farr and L/Bdr Walter Archer, near Haler, The Netherlands, November 1944			Left to Right: Gnrs Brett, Jimmy Benge, 'Dick' Jennings and 'Dodger' Green, near Haler, The Netherlands, November 1944

A game of football during a lull in the fighting	Walter Archer, his friend Arthur and Roth, December 1944			Arthur and Roth, December 1944, just before Arthur was posted.

The Family of Rene Hendricks (or Hendrics) with the Sub-Section in the village of Tongerloo, near Bree, Belgium, November 1944

G Battery Christmas Card 1944 (Front)	G Battery Christmas Card 1944 (Inside)

Gun Park, Neeroeteren, November 1944	'A' Troop AOP Cromwell (RA) covered with snow, in Guttekoven, 9th January 1945			Sexton Ram in the courtyard of C Sub-sections billet in Guttekoven, The Netherlands 9th January 1945

Main gate guard 8th Hussars, Abbassia 1938
8th Hussars on the Egyptian - Palestine Frontier before the war, in 1938.	Time to start digging!

Desert truck on patrol	Recon meets native patrol

Assembled trucks ready for action, Egypt	Pulling water from desert well.


Reinforcement encampment near Tripoli	Assembly with Jeeps and medical van: Europe

A cold snowy burial service, somewhere in NW Europe 1944/45. The cruel reality of war!

Rolls Royce Armoured Car in the desert in 1940.	Morris Armoured Car crossing the frontier wire into Libya in 1940

A Fordson Armoured Car of 'D' Squadron (RAF), 11th Hussars, fitted with an extra pair of light machine-guns mounted on a 'Scarff Ring', on the turret as additional protection against air attack. The two crew in 'side caps' are RAF personnel, with a Hussars instructor behind them.	In Humber Armoured Cars

Moving upto the front in Humber Armoured Cars	Moving through the wire

11th Hussars HQ, making use of an umbrella, liberated from a Cairo bar or restaurant

Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars. Some have the turret removed and are fitted with a 20mm Breda guns	The crew of this Humber II Armoured Car from 'B' Squadron were the first vehicle into Tripoli

Being inspected by Winston Churchill and Montgomery	A Troop equipped with French 75mm guns mounted on US Halftracks in Italy

C' Squadron Outside Ghent September 1944, in Daimler Armoured Cars	No. 1 Troop, D Squadron, in Germany. The White Scout Car carried troops that could dismount and fight on foot, to carry out patrols, out flank enemy positions, etc.

Daimler 'Dingo' Scout Car armed with twin Vickers K Machine Guns	Humber Scout Cars of D Squadron outside the Town Hall, in Hamburg, 3rd May 1945

Men of No.1 Troop, C Squadron, with a Daimler Armoured Car, September 1944	Vehicles of D Squadron in the main square of Tonning after VE Day

Daimler Armoured Cars of 11th Hussars, entering Berlin with Major General Lyne, the Divisional Commander, taking the salute.	Daimler Armoured Cars of 11th Hussars, during the Victory Parade in Berlin, 21st July 1945

Sgt (later Sgt Major) Bernard McGuire, 'B' Squadron, 11th Hussars, receiving his Military Medal from Field Marshall Montgomery (Note the use of Royal Armoured Corps shoulder title and the 11th Hussars badge below the Divisional Shoulder Flash)

Troopers on Marmon-Harrington Armoured Car	Near Gazala, 1942

Commanding Officer and other Officers	Commanding Officer, NCO's and Crews

Lt. Col Reeves-Moore	Lt. Col Newton-King

Armoured Car in the Desert on Observation

Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car called Rooikat II	Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car called Jakhals II

Another picture of Jakhals II	Men of 4SAACR with their Marmon-Herrington Armoured cars.

Two pictures showing the radios of Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars

The radio inside a Marmon Herrington armoured car. Picture courtesy of Rick Allenberg.	A second picture of the radio inside a Marmon Herrington armoured car. Picture courtesy of Rick Allenberg.

A9 in Cairo in 1939	On manoeuvres by the Pyramids in January 1939

On a train to Mersa Matruh	Practising with infantry in preparation for Operation Compass

RHQ Radio Vehicle in 1939	Crews in Matilda Tanks while on loan to the Australians in Tobruk, 1941

Men from B Squadron 's Hertogenbosch, 1944	Being inspected by Montgomery in Holland, late 1944

1st RTR on the way to Berlin, 1945. The Colonel's Tank, "Iron Duke IV", 60 miles from Berlin. On the turret the flag on the left is the Cambrai RTC flag and the one on the right is the Regimental Flag.

Being inspected by Montgomery in Berlin, 1945. The Triangle signs of the turrets indicate that 'A' Squadron is closest to the camera. Also note the tanks are all Comets, except for the Cromwell CS version in the lower middle of picture. The tanks carry the 52 AoS sign over the 22nd Armoured Brigade Sign.

A10 (MK II) Cruiser Tank before the Battle of Beda Fomm	A13 (MK IV) Cruiser Tank undergoing maintenance after the Battle of Sidi Omar

A9 CS Tank from 2nd RTR guarding the Derma Pass in 1941	A9 CS Tank knocked out at Beda Fomm

After Beda Fomm, complete with souvenir Italian hat.

'A' squadron with 'Honey' tanks in the desert	Fitters with a Staff Car

Men of 5th RTR inspecting their new 'Honey' tanks in the desert	Crew of Grant tank in the Desert 1942

5th RTR in Spararise, Italy October 1943	Sherman Fireflies and some crews, Germany 1945

` Comet Tank of C Squadron, 5th RTR in Ghent during the celebration of the liberation in Sept 1945. Photo Gordon Johnson, courtesy of his daughter Gillian.

Light Tank MK VI from A Squadron in action	Men of 6th RTR beside their Grant Tank

Attacking St. Joost with support from Churchill 'Crocodiles', January 1945	Holland, 1945	In a Bren Gun Carrier

Bofors AA Gun being towed by a Morris Tractor	Bofors Gun and Crew in the Desert	Bofors Gun and crew Gambut

Morris C 9B SPG 40mm Bofors in the winter on 1944/1945. Its probably from D Troop, 41 LAA Battery from the D on the side.	M16 Quad 0.50 Cal AA Halftracks 1945	Celebrating VE Day near the Kiel Canal.

C Troop, 41 Battery, 15th (IOM) LAA Regiment
C Troop, 41 LAA Bty, 15th (IOM) LAA Regt, 10th August 1945. Picture courtesy of Alf and Ray Parish.

REME CMP Trucks on the road, crossing the Belgium - Netherlands Border	More REME CMP Trucks parked on a road, somewhere		REME Workshop base, Weert, The Netherlands.

REME ARV Cromwell	Tank transporter with Cromwell		Recovering a 5th RTR Sherman Firefly, watched or more likely helped by PoWs

Rear of ARV Sherman	Sherman ARV, adorned with Nazi flag!		Rear of Leslie Mutten's ARV Sherman

Off the Landing Craft	Queuing for a cup of tea, from an Austin truck		REME Trucks covered in snow

ARV Cromwell	Testing a Wasp Flamethrower Carrier		Rather battered Workshop sign. (NB. The 99 denotes the REME Workshop attached to an Armoured Brigade, in this case 22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop)

Recovery in the mud!		Brewing a cup of tea, somewhere in Europe. The crew have written their names on the side of the truck

4th County of London Yeomanry, being inspected by General Montgomery, England 1944	AA Crusader of 22nd Armoured Brigade (TAC sign = 50) on loan to 4th County of London Yeomanry landing on 7th June 1944	A Sherman Firefly landing on 7th June 1944, from the same LST as the Crusade AA tank above right


German Troops inspecting an Achilles (M10 17 pdr) Tank Destroyer from 260 Battery, 65th Anti-Tank Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry) after the battles at Villers-Bocage and the Brigade Box. Only 260 Battery were equipped with the 17 pdr version at this time with the other SPG Battery (258) having US 76mm M10 Tank Destroyers.	Half Tracks and men of 65th Anti-Tank Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry) outside a German Pub.

Trooper Ted Fogg (Div TAC HQ) by his truck in North Africa	Men from Divisional HQ on a Crusader Tank

The 'Kentucky Minstrels' from Div TAC HQ in the desert

Men from Divisional TAC HQ with a Jeep in the desert	Trooper Ted Fogg and colleagues from Divisional TAC HQ pose with a Tommy Gun on a Jeep in the desert

Trooper Ted Fogg (Div TAC HQ) in his truck in North Africa, with a colleague	Humber Scout Car from Divisional HQ in late 1944 (NB. The same Humber can be seen in the Victory Parade pictures with a Russian Officer and loudspeaker system.)

Hopeful of going home, after being told they were soon be sailing away from Africa, but alas they were headed for Italy, via Salerno.

Men of Divisional TAC HQ in North West Europe

Sgt Ernest Webster (Divisional HQ) on the left, somewhere in Germany, 1945

Men of Tank Troop, 22nd Armoured Brigade on board SS Orion bound for the Middle East, 1941	Men of Tank Troop, 22nd Armoured Brigade near Mersa Matruh 1941	Crusader MK I from Brigade HQ at Sidi Bish Camp in February 1942