Photographs of Individual Tanks - Italian Campaign

Note: The numeral in parenthesis after a tank's name is its generation number.

Churchill Mark II Cs

Due to the difficulty to efficiently employ the hull-mounted howitzer, on the six Mark Is which the Regiment had during the campaign in Tunisia, they were replaced by the Mark II Cs. Of particular interest, cupolas from knocked PzKfw IIIs were installed on them at the REME Workshop, Bône, Algeria. The second photograph, although of poor quality, more clearly shows the cupola in place.

B Squadron's Bushmills (4) (Photo Author's Collection)

A Squadron's Ashbourne (Photo NIH Archives)

Churchill Mark III

The original intention, prior to going to Italy was for all the fifty-four Mark IIIs to be substituted by Mark IVs, however, due to the Na75 conversion programme, only those found to be unfit for further action were replaced. The Mark III with its welded turret performed well until war's end, being favoured by crews over the Mark IV with its cast turret.

HQ Squadron's Donegal (Photo NIH Archives)
Crew: L-R Cpl GC Yule, L/Cpl S Shillito, Tpr A Lang, Cpl J Lester & Sgt HB Phillips

Churchill Mark IV
The 6 pdr guns of this Mark, together with those mounted on the Mark III,
continued to be a match for any Panzer that was encountered in battle.

B Squadron's Belfast (Photo NIH Archives)

Another of Belfast (Photo NIH Archives)

Churchill Na 75
Original designated as a Mark VI, eighteen were delivered to the Regiment during July 1944. Usually deployed to lay down of HE on enemy targets, not in an anti-tank role.

L/Cpl. Cox (Gunner) taking it easy in front of 1 Troop , B Squadron's Boyne.
Other crew members:
Commander - Lieut. B.E.S.King, Operator - Cpl. Bob Malseed
Driver - Tpr Burton, Co-driver - Tpr Chilton.
(Photograph provided by Cecil Cox, added to author's collection)

C Squadron's Castlerobin (Photo IWM)

Another of Castlerobin. As few crews carried steel helmets on their tanks,
the shot was probably posed. Commander Lt. M.L .Bexon, operator L/Cpl Boyd. (Photo IWM)

Churchill Mark V
Delivered in November 1944, its 95 mm gun added considerable HE fire-power to the Regiment.

B Squadron's Ballyrashane (6)
Her crew:
Turret L-R:   L/Cpl Alan Hughes   Author   Major R.S.H. Sidebottom O.C. 'B' Sqn.
Drivers L-R:   L/Cpl "Darkie" Gault    Tpr Tommy Bowers (Photo Author's Collection)

Another of Ballyrashane and her crew. (Photo Author's Collection)

B Squadron's Bushmills (5) Taken while in the Winter Line. From Left to Right:
Front:   Tpr Tommy Bowers    Padre Elwyn Hughes    Tpr John Calvert
Rear:    L/Cpl Alan Hughes,   Tpr Gordon "Tich" Young   Tpr Henry Dawson
   Tpr Bert Brindle (B Sqn fitter)   Tpr John Johnston   Cpl Billy Keville   Author.
(Photo Author's Collection)

L/Cpl Victor Duke, Recce Squadron, aboard Edenderry.
Taken while in the Winter Line, February 1945. (Photo IWM N.A.22498)

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