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The picture shown is of a Churchill Mk VII 'Crocodile' flame-thrower tank. The photograph was taken by Sergeant Allan Green, who served throughout the war with the Royal Army Service Corps. Like a lot of RASC men he saw extensive service in different theatres of operation. This picture, I believe, must have been taken after his return from North Africa to the UK for the build up to D-Day.

This can't be a picture of a Crocodile in action, as the soldier standing on the track guard is far too nonchalant, and I don't think Allan took any happy snaps when under fire!

The Crocodile carried the usual Mk VII's 75mm gun and co-axially mounted BESA machine gun, but in place of the hull BESA it was fitted with a flame gun which fired an early form of Napalm.

The fuel for the gun was carried in an armoured trailer towed behind the tank. The Napalm was fired under pressure from Nitrogen bottles carried in the same trailer.

An excellent book called 'Flamethrower' written by Andrew Wilson who commanded a Crocodile Troop in Europe gives a very vivid account of these tanks in action. It's out of print now unfortunately, but worth finding if you can.

The name on the side pannier of this tank is 'SAMUR'. If anyone has any information on this particular Crocodile, or served in Crocodiles in Europe I would be most interested to hear from you.

Paul Fagan

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