Jakko.
You mention you have seen this item on North African and Sicily photos.
Are they present at all on D-Day photos or any from the NW Europe Campaign?
If not, perhaps this item was specific to the armoured operations in desert conditions and was phased out. What comes to mind is some form of canvas crew shelter. If no tent poles can be seen on any of the photos, perhaps some form of lean to that was simply slung along a side of the tank to provide crew shelter/shade. One thing my Mum used to tell me from her time in the NAAFI in North Africa was that it 'got bloody cold' at night in the desert, quickly. The temperature would drop from the low 100's to 60 or 70 F, which does not seem that much but shocks ones body never the less and it is not uncommon to see troops at night in the desert wearing Great Coats, full Battle dress and even leather jerkins.
The item in the photos may not be padded at all, just a large bit of canvas work folded up.
Just a thought.
David
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