Augusta harbour, Sicily, 1943

Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, Italy, 1943.

Augusta, north of Syracuse, Sicily.

Transported on American-built 'Landing Ships, Tank', or 'LSTs', sailing from North Africa, the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) landed in Sicily on 10 July 1943 as part of 4th Armoured Brigade.

After their successful amphibious landings, elements of 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) advanced inland to take the village of Cassibile and to support 17th Infantry Brigade in taking Syracuse. The port was quickly secured and became a base for the Royal Navy. From Syracuse the Sharpshooters moved northwards to Priolo Gargallo, Melilli and Augusta.

The unit war diary of the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) for 12 July 1943 documents the advance of 'A' Squadron on Augusta's harbour area. The town of Augusta was taken the following day by the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers supported by tanks of 'B' Squadron.

From an album containing 246 photographs compiled by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).