Prime Minister Winston Churchill fires a Sten gun during a visit to the Experimental Establishment, Shoeburyness, June 1941

Official photograph by Major W G Horton, War Office photographer, World War Two (1939-1945), June 1941.

Winston Churchill tests his own marksmanship with a Sten gun on a visit to Experimental Establishment, Shoeburyness in June 1941. He was accompanied by Secretary of State for War, Captain David Margesson (positioned behind the prime minister, wearing a bowler hat).

The Experimental Branch, Shoeburyness, Essex, was originally part of the Royal Artillery School of Gunnery and was established in 1859. It was focused on the development of experimental weaponry and defence systems. From 1920 until 1948 it was known as the Experimental Establishment.

From an album containing 58 photographs relating to the Auxiliary Territorial Service Experimental Gunnery Assistants, Experimental Establishment, Shoeburyness, 1940-1941.