A Crusader tank in the Egyptian desert, 1942 (c)

Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, North Africa (1940-1943), 1942 (c).

The crew are named as 'Bill Palmer, Norrie Allison, Peter Randell, Geof Fiske, Don Ross'. The 18-ton Crusader first saw action in 1941. It was fitted with 30 mm thick armour plate and equipped with a two pounder gun. Later variants were upgraded to a six pounder gun and had 51 mm thick armour. The Crusader was the standard British Army tank during the North African campaign, but was later replaced by the Sherman.

The war diary of the Sharpshooters records Lieutenant William Henry Palmer's death on 17 July 1943 after heavy fighting around the Primosole Bridge over the Simeto RIver. During Operation FUSTIAN Allied airborne troops had attempted to capture the bridge and 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) were involved in the supporting ground attack. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records Palmer's grave at Catania War Cemetery, Sicily, but records the date of his death as 19 July 1943.

From an album containing 182 group photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).