'"A" Squadron tanks, in open leaguer at Villons-Les-Buissons', 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Normandy, 1944

Photograph by Major W H J, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, North West Europe (1944-1945), 1944.

Camouflaged Sherman tanks in a defensive formation.

The regiment was moved to this area on 11 June 1944 to be ready to deal with a German counter-attack, following the allied landings in Normandy. The counter attack did not materialise. The flat cornfields are typical of the country around Caen.

The term 'leaguer' derives from the Afrikaans word, 'laager'. The Boers in South Africa used it to describe the temporary defensive positions set up using their large ox wagons during trekking. The term was common amongst British armoured units which used a similar tactic to protect themselves during temporary stops.

From a photograph album containing 210 photographs compiled by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1944.