A Churchill AVRE moving through close country, Normandy, 1944

Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, North West Europe (1944-1945), 1944.

A Churchill Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE) and a Sherman tank AVRE advance through the thick 'bocage' country of Normandy. The latter made progress against entrenched German opposition extremely difficult. The Churchill tank was ideal for engineering tasks as its large side doors enabled sappers to dismount under cover and place charges. This example is armed with a 290 mm calibre Petard mortar. The heavy demolition charge it fired could demolish reinforced concrete defensive structures.

From an album of 211 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).