Priolo Gargallo, Sicily, 1943

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

Priolo Gargallo, 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) documents the advance of 'B' Squadron on Priolo on 11 July 1943. Hampered by terrain which made off-road movement difficult, five tanks were knocked out or temporarily disabled by enemy anti-tank artillery and self-propelled guns. Major J G Caunce, commanding 'B' Squadron, was among the wounded and Major Oliver Woods assumed command after he was evacuated.

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