'Phil Budgen's tank', 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Sicily, July 1943

Photograph compiled by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, Sicily, 1943.

According to the war diary of 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), elements of 'A' Squadron were involved in a fierce battle at Tenutella on the 13 July 1943. The action, in support of 15th Infantry Brigade, resulted in the loss of six of the seven tanks involved to anti-tank and mortar fire. Nine tank crew were killed and four men wounded. Lance Sergeant Philip Budgen, a veteran of the campaign in North Africa, is recorded as having died of his wounds.

Temporary graves, amidst the detritus of war, can be seen in front of the Sherman tank in this picture. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record Budgen's death as occurring the day after the action described above and lists his final resting place as Syracuse War Cemetery.

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