NAM.1975-03-63-7-122

‘Bill Palmer’, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), North Africa, 1942. Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, North Africa, 1942. Tank commander Bill Palmer seated by a bivouac in the desert, with the name ‘Anitha’ spelt out in the sand next to him in stones or snail shells. In another of Sale’s photographs, Palmer appears in the turret of a Crusader Mark II tank (T16569) nicknamed ‘Anitha’. At this time ‘Anitha’ was crewed by Palmer, Mike Carter, Geof Fiske and Norrie Allison and was part of 4 Troop, ‘A’ Squadron, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). The war diary of the Sharpshooters records Lieutenant William Henry Palmer’s death on 17 July 1943 after heavy fighting around the Primosole Bridge over the Simeto RIver. During Operation FUSTIAN Allied airborne troops had attempted to capture the bridge and 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) were involved in the supporting ground attack. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records Palmer’s grave at Catania War Cemetery, Sicily, but records the date of his death as 19 July 1943. From an album containing 189 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). From a photograph album containing 189 photographs compiled by Maj Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1942. Photographs are portraits and scenes of interest associated with 7th Armoured Division in Africa. With captions from a separate index volume. Associated with World War Two, North Africa (1940-1943).

World War Two, North Africa (1940-1945)