Swimming party, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), near Tripoli, Libya, 1943

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

The swimming party are named as, 'Ron Mutton. Pete Maxwell. Arthur. Doug. Ted. Jimmy Thomas. Geof. Bill. Tom Elkins. Tom Mane. Brian & Mike'.

Tripoli had been a key port for Axis (German and Italian) forces during the North African campaign; it eventually fell to the Allies in January 1943. While 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) had fought its way to Tripoli after the Battle of El Alamein, the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), sailed into the port in June 1943. The regiment had been withdrawn to Egypt to reorganise, re-equip and train for an assault on the island of Sicily. The men of 3rd County of London Yeomanry, now part of an invasion fleet, were only in Tripoli for a week before re-embarking for Sicily, as part of Operation HUSKY.

Corporal Thomas Wilfred Elkins, aged 24, was wounded on the 13 July 1943 in Sicily serving with 'A' Company, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). He died of his wounds ten days later and, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, is buried at Tripoli War Cemetery in Libya, with the personal inscription on his grave reading, 'Sleep Lightly, Lad; Thou art for King's Guard at Daybreak'.

From an album containing 241 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).