'Bill Sillar & Murdie Andrews', North Africa, 1943

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

William (Bill) Sillar (1914-1976), Royal Army Medical Corps, seated with Murdie W C Andrews.

In early 1943 the Sharpshooters were out of the line re-fitting and training. The regiment stayed in and around Cairo training until July 1943 when they embarked for the amphibious assault on the island of Sicily.

While North Africa was the first taste of combat for many of the Sharpshooters, Sillar had already had an eventful war. He graduated in medicine from Glasgow University in 1939 but quickly volunteered for military service when war broke out. He served with the Lancashire Fusiliers in the British Expeditionary Force in France. Sillar was captured by the Germans but, despite poor health, managed to escape occupied Europe via an escape route across the Spanish border. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1941. He returned to active service, serving in North Africa and Italy with 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). After the War, and with the advent of the National Health Service, Sillar became a surgeon at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. He specialised in surgery relating to trauma and orthopaedics. Sellar's experience on the front line during World War Two, influenced his involvement in the creation of a purpose-built accident and emergency department. He died on 23 January 1976.

In early 1943, the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) were moved to Cowley Camp at Mena near Cairo. While in Egypt, the Sharpshooters undertook routine training as well as TEWTs, Tactical Exercises Without Troops.

From an album containing 205 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).