Tank crew of 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), attempting to keep warm, Holland, 1944

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

The crew of the Sherman tank are named as James Sale (the photograph album compiler, smoking a pipe, seated on the left), Nobby Clark, Clifford Pace, Tony Pistori and Charles Dawson of the 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). The men wear British tank crew oversuits.

The 'pixie suit' was a heavy cotton protective oversuit introduced in July 1943, as a functional item of clothing for men serving in tank units. The tank suit had a detachable hood and strong shoulder straps that could be used to pull an individual out of his tank in an emergency. It was also a highly desirable item as it could be converted into a sleeping bag.

The Sherman tank had a crew of five consisting of a commander, the driver, a gunner, a radio operator who also acted as gun loader, and a co-driver who also manned the hull machine gun.

From an album containing 222 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).