'Freddie has a drink', Worthing, West Sussex, 1944

Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1944.

A gathering of 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) officers and family members, 'Mr Sale Senior. [Freddie Crowley]. Brenda Mr Crowley Senior. Mrs Bradbury. Jacko. Teddie', at the Half Brick public house in Worthing, Sussex.

Frederick Charles John Crowley served with the 3rd County of London Yeomanry throughout World War Two (1939-1945). He was awarded the Military Medal in North Africa in 1942, and went on to become a veteran of the campaigns in Italy and North West Europe.

Having arrived back in the United Kingdom from fighting in Italy in February 1944, the 3rd County of London Yeomanry moved to Worthing in Sussex. After a brief period of leave the Sharpshooters were training and re-equipping in preparation for Operation OVERLORD. The regiment was based in Worthing from February 1944 until it was sent to Portsmouth on 4 June for embarkation to Normandy.

The Half Brick was a pub on the Brighton Road seafront, close to the streets where the tanks of the unit were prepared for the amphibious assault on Normandy. It remained a going concern until its closure in 2009. The pub was subsequently converted into apartments with only the building's listed frontage retained.

From an album of 120 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1944.