'The Red Petticoat. Pickhurst', Surrey, 1940-1941 (c)

Photograph compiled by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1940-1941 (c).

Regimental Headquarters bar, Pickhurst House, Surrey.

According to the war diary of the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 'A' Squadron was billeted at Cherfold, 'B' Squadron at Chiddingfold, and 'C' Squadron at Burningfold Hall near Dunsfold, on 15 October 1940. After gunnery training in South Wales in February 1941 the unit returned to southern England to train on the South Downs between Worthing and Arundel. Throughout their time in Surrey, Sale and his comrades were housed in, what look like, rather comfortable billets requisitioned in Cherfold and Chiddingfold.

An inn sign for 'The Red Petticoat' would appear in a later photograph when the unit were in North Africa. After the War 'Jimmy' Sale went on to run a chain of pubs in London.

From a photograph album containing 620 photographs compiled by Major Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1940-1941.