A Basuto band marching past a saluting base on Empire Day, Cairo, 1943

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

During the war more than 20,000 Sotho from the British protectorate of Basutoland (Lesotho) served in North Africa, the Middle East and Italy. Most served in the African Pioneer Corps where they undertook myriad tasks including the construction of fortifications, carrying of supplies, camouflaging of military installations, building of dummy tanks, guarding of supply dumps and POWs and working as dockers and stevedores.

In early 1943, the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) was moved to Cowley Camp at Mena near Cairo where the unit was re-equipped and personnel undertook training in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.

From an album containing 45 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1938-1945.