'2/Lt Bobbie Gale', 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Westbury, 1941

Photograph compiled by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, 1941.

Major Robert Frank Gale MC, of 'C' Company, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), died on 10 July 1944 during heavy fighting near Eterville. According to the unit's war diary, 'C' Company were in action against German infantry attacking Eterville on 10 July 1944 and Gale is listed as among seven casualties that day. The diary records, 'Major Gale MC, fatally wounded by shell fire and several officers wounded during periods of intermittent shelling'. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record confirms the date of death, serial number and records Gale's permanent grave at the Banneville-la-Campagne war cemetery.

The unit's initial road and rail move to Westbury in Wiltshire occurred at the end of May 1941. According to the unit's war diary, on 1 June 1941, the Sharpshooters numbered 40 officers and 589 other ranks. It was equipped with 22 Cruiser tanks (including Marks VI, V and VIa), 26 light tanks, 10 scout cars and 7 personnel carriers, along with around 65 soft-skin vehicles and 17 motorcycles. The 3rd County of Yeomanry undertook training at Westbury until mid-August. It then moved to Avonmouth and embarked on the voyage to North Africa.

From a photograph album containing 620 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).