German 88 mm anti-tank gun knocked out by 4 Troop 'A' Squadron, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Sicily, 1943

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

One of the most successful guns of the war, the 88 mm flak gun was widely used by the Germans in both an anti-tank and anti-aircraft role. This gun mounted on its two bogies is probably one of a number knocked out by the Sharpshooters near the town of Carlentini on 14 July 1943.

Transported on American-built 'Landing Ships, Tank', or 'LSTs', sailing from North Africa, the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) landed in Sicily on 10 July 1943 as part of 4th Armoured Brigade.

After their successful amphibious landings, elements of 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) advanced inland to take the village of Cassibile and to support 17th Infantry Brigade in taking Syracuse. The port was quickly secured and became a base for the Royal Navy. From Syracuse the Sharpshooters moved northwards to Priolo, taking the town of Villasmundo.

From Villasmundo the Sharpshooters moved north towards Carlentini,with the objective of relieving British airborne forces that had attempted to seize the Primosole Bridge on the night of the 13/14 July. Carlentini was evacuated by the Germans but a screen of anti-tank guns and tanks supported by air attacks held up the British advance on the 14 July 1943. The Sharpshooter's war diary describes how during the day six 88 mm guns were knocked out in or around Carlentini.

From an album containing 246 photographs compiled by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).