WW2, Wavell's (really O'Conners) offensive. Also known as Operation Compass. It began as an extended raid against the Italians. It eventally climaxed at Beda Fomm with the distruction of the Italian 10th Army.
If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn't plan your mission properly.
Actually, according to flag signals, these vehicles are approaching a camp. The left shown flags means "form a camp".
But I might be wrong on that.[;)]
Well, you said its British hence this would exclude any ANZAC formation.
I was looking at the colonial helmets and the head lights of the vehicles.
Actually the helmets would exclude an early WWII event, and the head light would exclude a WWI action, I saw pics of these armoured cars at Gallipoli, in Fiandres and even in Dublin but they hadn't those head lights.
Hence I guess we are talking about late 20's or 30's in the Middle East (Syria, Palestine or even Iraq).
And since the Rolls Royce were "officially" phased out by the Royal Army in 1922 I guess those might be RAF personnel.
This is my guess, but I might be totally wrong! [:)]
Well,the Royal Navy ran some RR ACs in Central Asia after WWI...but...hmmmm
The second picture shows the spare tire on the right side of the vehicle, which to me means RR silver ghost. The shape of the turret is distinctly RR AC.
This can't be the Indian RR version deployed after WWI, as that turret was changed and increased to include 4 guns, one pointing in each direction.
Well, you got me, O. I know that the RR AC was also used briefly in WWII.
Picture 1:
Taken Sep 1940. It is a section of AC used by the RAf for convoy escort and Aerodrome defence.
Picture 2:
Dec 1941. It is an AC named "Shellback". This was taken in the Western Desert. Again its an RAF AC. The Officer is the Vehicle Commander. It could not be Army dressed like that anyway!