Here's some better photos of the Pheasant:
You can click on the photos to enlarge them
Here's a claim that it went to Africa in late 1942. But even if this were true, it sounds like they first saw action in Feb/March 1943.
Prior to the appearance of the first tigers in the African theater, an interim 17pdr was contrived by placing the gun on the existing 25pdr carriage. To the surprise of everyone it all held together when fired and these weapons were rushed to Africa in late 1942 in time to meet the tiger head on. The black and white photo that depicts the rear of the 17pdr above is in fact one of these early Mk I guns on the 25pdr mounting.
http://www.hypospace.net/equipment/AT%20Guns.htm
Here's the regular 17Pdr with Mk I 'split' carriage:
Cross