Charles Harris and Freddie Crowley, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Parham, West Sussex, 1941

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

The two soldiers are wearing leather jerkins over their uniforms. These garments were introduced as an alternative to the greatcoat in World War One (1914-1918). Unlike the greatcoat, the jerkin provided soldiers, and particularly vehicle and tank crews, with an additional layer of protection against the cold and wet without the loss of manoeuvrability.

In October 1940, the 3rd and 4th Sharpshooters Regiments moved to the Dorking area, with the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) billeted in Cherfold, Chiddingfold and surrounding villages. Training at Parham in West Sussex was probably undertaken while based in Surrey. The 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) moved on to Westbury in Wiltshire in May 1941 prior to deployment to North Africa.

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