Can anyone identify the unit, it appears to have the Diabolo marking? Assuming it is red, therefore could be 1st Army Tank Brigade. It's AoS is just a solid coloured square, so cannot further identify the regiment/battalion. COMMONWEALTH FORCES IN NORTH AFRICA 1941. © IWM (E 3721E) IWM Non Commercial License It has been pointed out to me that one of the individuals is wearing an overseas cap, and that RTR members would not be caught wearing anything other than a black beret. Could be a member from another branch? regards, Jack
Take a look at some of Jac's 'Two types' cartoons of war in the western desert and Italy to get an idea of how dress conventions melted under the conditions in the desert
A check of the IWM site shows that the photo is one of three (possibly four) taken by an Indian Army official photographer on 24th November 1941. Two of the other images show Matildas and in one image a Matilda is identified as belonging to 42nd RTR.
I wonder, given the Indian infantry and the date, whether that could help reduce the number of possibilities.
Take a look at this: https://mikesresearch.com/2018/10/28/matilda-operation-crusader-1941/ The infantry would appear to be 7th Indian Brigade.
And this, from Andreas' excellent Crusader site: https://rommelsriposte.com/2012/11/23/more-late-arrivals/ 42nd RTR only got its Matildas a short time before the operation. It also received seven Mk VI lights for recce work. The outfit suffered heavy tank casualties.
Thanks everyone for the replies. I actually skipped one of the photos from this particular IWM series because it had a date of 1940. Obviously that is incorrect since the Matilda (with it's rear facing the viewer) has the striped recognition flashes which were introduced specially for the Crusader Operations of Nov. 1941. The additional information does appear to back up a high possibility the setting of the light tank is of 42nd RTR supporting the advance of the Indian unit. AoS then would be 173 on the square marking located on the front of the lower hull. For reasons can only speculate, lack of time perhaps or security, this was not applied. regards, Jack
Actually, there does appear to be some kind of chalk scribbling on that square, maybe 852 with another couple digits bellow it?