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Colonel
Godfrey was astonished to discover that the 2/11th Infantry Battalion had captured Post 8. The carrier platoon of the 2/6th Infantry Battalion attacked and captured Post 13 while the 2/11th captured Post 6. The only post still holding out was now Post 11. The 2/6th Infantry Battalion renewed its attack, with the infantry attacking from the front and its carriers attacking from the rear. They were joined by Matildas from the vicinity of Post 6. At this point the Italian post commander, who had been wounded in the battle, lowered his flag and raised a white one. Some 350 Italian soldiers surrendered at Post 11. Inside, the Australians found two field guns, 6 antitank guns, 12 medium machine guns, 27 light machine guns, and two 3 inch mortars. Godfrey sought out the Italian post commander—who wore a British
2062:
1032:) faced the British from within the strong defences of Bardia. Mussolini wrote to Bergonzoli, "I have given you a difficult task but one suited to your courage and experience as an old and intrepid soldier—the task of defending the fortress of Bardia to the last. I am certain that 'Electric Beard' and his brave soldiers will stand at whatever cost, faithful to the last." Bergonzoli replied: "I am aware of the honour and I have today repeated to my troops your message – simple and unequivocal. In Bardia we are and here we stay." Bergonzoli had approximately 45,000 defenders under his command. The Italian divisions defending the perimeter of Bardia included remnants of four divisions. The northern ("Gerfah") sector was held by the
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1988:
fort were two 6 inch guns, two field guns and five other guns of the fort. Fortunately, the 6 inch guns were for coastal defence and were unable to fire inland. One of the tanks made straight for the gate of the fort. The
Italians opened the gate, and the tanks moved inside, taking the garrison of 300 prisoners. D Company then followed a goat track that led to lower Bardia. Thousands of prisoners were taken, most from service units. Two carriers of the 2/5th Infantry Battalion patrolling near the coast captured 1,500 prisoners. Captain N. A. Vickery, a forward observer from the 2/1st Field Regiment, attacked an Italian battery in his Bren gun carrier and captured 1,000 prisoners.
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1908:
surprise and D Company captured the post—and 73 prisoners—at 0230. Halliday repeated this tactic against Post 14, which was taken at 0400 with 64 prisoners. Capturing the two posts cost one
Australian killed and seven wounded. A third attempt against Post 17 failed: the previous attacks had alerted the post and D Company came under heavy mortar and machine gun fire. A furious battle raged until the post fell shortly before dawn. Another 103 Italians were captured at a cost of two Australians killed and nine wounded. Between casualties and men detached as prisoner escorts, D Company strength fell to 46 men, and Halliday elected to halt for the night.
1826:. Corporal A. A. Pickett's gun destroyed four of them until his portee was hit, killing one man and wounding Pickett. The survivors got the gun back into action and knocked out a fifth tank. The portee was again hit by fire from the sixth tank, fatally wounding another man; but it too was soon knocked out by another 2 pounder. By midday, 6,000 Italian prisoners had already reached the provosts at the collection point near Post 45, escorted by increasingly fewer guards whom the rifle companies could afford to detach. The Italian perimeter had been breached and the attempt to halt the Australian assault at the outer defences had failed.
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1845:, now took over the advance. The battalion's task was to clear "The Triangle", a map feature created by the intersection of three tracks north of Post 16. Wrigley's force had a long and exhausting approach, and much of its movement forward to its jump off point had been under Italian shellfire intended for the 16th Infantry Brigade. Awaiting its turn to move, the force sought shelter in Wadi Scemmas and its tributaries. Wrigley called a final coordinating conference for 1030, but at 1020 he was wounded by a bullet and his second in command, Major G. E. Sell took over. At the conference the
1795:(Lieutenant Colonel F. O. Chilton) found that it was best to keep skirmishing forward throughout this advance, because going to ground for any length of time meant sitting in the middle of the enemy artillery concentrations that inflicted further casualties. The Australian troops made good progress, six tank crossings were readied and mines between them and the wire had been detected. Five minutes later, the 23 Matildas of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment advanced, accompanied by the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion. Passing through the gaps, they swung right along the double line of posts.
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2024:'s C Company, albeit with all six Matildas at his disposal. Honner's men had to literally chase the barrage, and had only just caught up with it before it ceased. As they advanced, they came under fire from the left, the right, and in front of them, but casualties were light. Most positions surrendered when the infantry and tanks came close, but this did not reduce the fire from posts further away. By 1115, C Company had reached the Switch Line and captured Post R5 and then R7. B Company, following on the left, cleared Wadi Meriega, capturing Major General
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battle, the type that most suited its Great War-based doctrine and training. Confidence and experience was generated and leaders and staff took away important tactical lessons from the battle. The
Australian official historian, Gavin Long, considered Bardia "a victory for bold reconnaissance, for audacious yet careful planning, for an artillery scheme which subdued the enemy's fire at the vital time, and a rapid and continuing infantry assault which broke a gap in the enemy's line." To attribute success to the tanks or artillery was "to present
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1772:—as Italian artillery fire began to land, mainly behind them. An Italian shell exploded among a leading platoon and detonated a Bangalore torpedo, resulting in four killed and nine wounded. The torpedoes were slid under the barbed wire at 60-yard (55 m) intervals. A whistle was blown as a signal to detonate the torpedoes but could not be heard over the din of the barrage. Eather became anxious and ordered the engineering party nearest him to detonate their torpedo. This the other teams heard, and they followed suit.
1783:. They advanced on a series of posts held by the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Italian 115th Infantry Regiment. Posts 49 and 47 were rapidly overrun, as was Post 46 in the second line beyond. Within half an hour Post 48 had also fallen and another company had taken Posts 45 and 44. The two remaining companies now advanced beyond these positions towards a low stone wall as artillery fire began to fall along the broken wire. The Italians fought from behind the wall until the Australians were inside it, attacking with
1900:
He sent a platoon around the flank to silently cut the wire on the western side, while he led another platoon against the northern side. A Bren gunner opened fire prematurely, alerting the defenders, but
Macfarlane's men were able to overrun the post. The same tactic was used to capture Post R11. Macfarlane was supposed to capture Post R9, but was unable to find it in the dark. His troops attempted to capture it at dawn, but the defenders were alert and they responded with heavy fire. With the help of a
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1005:. Military vehicles could traverse the stony desert with little difficulty, although the heat, dust and wind caused their rapid deterioration. Because it was so thinly populated, bombs and shells could be used with minimal risk of civilian casualties. Winter nights could be bitterly cold, yet the days could still be uncomfortably hot. There was almost no food or water, and little shelter from the cold, the heat or the wind. The desert was, however, relatively free from disease.
1951:
1161:, had shortcomings, the main one being that it used 20-round strips of cartridges, which gave it a reduced rate of fire. Shortages of raw materials, coupled with the increased technological sophistication of modern weapons, led to production problems that frustrated efforts to supply the Italian Army with the best available equipment. The result was that the firepower of the Italian defenders was neither as great nor as effective as it should have been.
1925:, which Mackay had recently allocated from reserve. Allen gave orders accordingly. During the afternoon the 6th Cavalry Regiment was pulled back to become the brigade reserve and the 2/5th Infantry Battalion relieved the 2/2nd to free it to advance the next day. That evening, Berryman came to the conclusion that unless the Italian defence collapsed soon, the 16th and 17th Infantry Brigades would become incapable of further effort and Brigadier
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to quickly capture Posts 20 and 23. At this point, one tank ran out of ammunition; anti-tank fire already had blown off the track of another in the attack on Post 20. Nonetheless, Posts 18 and 21 were captured without armoured support, using the now-familiar tactics of grenades, wire cutting and assault. With darkness approaching, Macfarlane attempted to capture Post 16, but the defenders beat him off. He retired to Post 18 for the night.
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1455:) would then exploit the breach in the fortress defences in the second phase. Most of the artillery, grouped as the "Frew Group" under British Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Frowen, would support the 16th Australian Infantry Brigade; the 17th would be supported by the 2/2nd Field Regiment. In the event, the artillery density—96 guns for an attack on an 800-yard (730 m) front—was comparable to the
1447:) at the junction of the Gerfah and Ponticelli sectors. Attacking at the junction of two sectors would confuse the defence. The defences here were weaker than in the Mereiga sector, the ground was favourable for employment of the Matilda tanks and good observation for the artillery was possible. There was also the prospect that an attack here could split the fortress in two. The
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working order. The attack was to be made with only two brigades, leaving the third for a subsequent advance on Tobruk. Mackay did not share O'Connor's optimism about the prospect of an easy victory and proceeded on the assumption that Bardia would be resolutely held, requiring a well-planned attack similar to that required to breach the
1818:. The Italian defenders were cleared with grenades. By 0920 all companies were on their objectives and they had linked with 2/1st Infantry Battalion. However, the Bren gun carriers encountered problems as they moved forward during the initial attack. One was hit and destroyed in the advance and another along the Wadi Ghereidia.
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Palestine. The
British were unfamiliar with diesel engines and a lack of spare parts, indifferent maintenance and hard use under desert conditions soon took their toll, leading to many breakdowns. By the end of December the Western Desert Force vehicle fleet was only 40 per cent of its establishment strength.
1317:, at a time when O'Connor had been an instructor there. Harding later considered the 6th Australian Division staff "as good as any that I came across in that war, and highly efficient." Australian doctrine emphasised the importance of initiative in its junior leaders and small units were trained in aggressive
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Bardia did not become an important port as supply by sea continued to run through Sollum but became an important source of water, after the repair of the large pumping station that the
Italians had installed to serve the township and Fort Capuzzo. Axis forces reoccupied the town in April 1941, during
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Meanwhile, the
Italian garrisons in the north were surrendering to the 16th Infantry Brigade and the Support Group of the 7th Armoured Division outside the fortress; the 2/8th Infantry Battalion had taken the area above Wadi Meriega; and the 2/7th Infantry Battalion had captured Posts 10, 12 and 15.
1987:
The 2/2nd
Infantry Battalion, supported by the three Matilda tanks and the guns of the 7th Medium Regiment, advanced down the Wadi Scemmas towards an Italian fort on the southern headland of Bardia. After some hours of climbing, the 2/2nd reached the headland and attacked the fort at 1645. Inside the
1941:
engaged the
Italian guns and the platoon withdrew. Colonel Eather then organised a formal attack on Post 54 for 1330, following a bombardment of the post by artillery and mortars. The Italian guns were silenced when an Australian shell detonated a nearby ammunition dump. The Australians then captured
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That evening, Brigadier Savige came forward to the 2/5th Infantry Battalion's position to determine the situation, which he accurately evaluated as "extremely confused; the attack was stagnant." Savige adopted a plan of Walker's for a night attack, which began at 1230. Macfarlane advanced on Post 16.
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Upon hearing of the losses to the 2/5th Infantry Battalion, Brigade Major G. H. Brock sent Captain J. R. Savige's A Company of the 2/7th Infantry Battalion to take "The Triangle". Savige gathered his platoons and, with fire support from machine guns, attacked the objective, 3,000 yards (2,700 m)
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gun emptied into him. Lieutenant C. W. Macfarlane, the second-in-command, had to prevent his troops from bayoneting the other prisoners. The incident was witnessed by the Italians at Post 25 some 450 yards (410 m) away, who promptly surrendered. With the help of the Matildas, Macfarlane was able
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had been killed or wounded. C Company's Captain W. B. Griffiths pulled his company back to the Wadi and called on a detachment of 3-inch mortars and a platoon of Vickers machine guns of the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers to fire at the Italian positions. This proved effective, and Griffith's
1991:
By the end of the second day, tens of thousands of defenders had been killed or captured. The remaining garrisons in the Gerfan and Ponticelli sectors were completely isolated. The logistical and administrative units were being overrun. Recognising that the situation was hopeless, General Bergonzoli
1978:
The brigade major, Major I. R. Campbell, ordered MacArthur-Onslow, whose carriers were screening England's advance, to seize Hebs el Harram, the high ground overlooking the road to the township of Bardia. MacArthur-Onslow's carriers discovered an Italian hospital with 500 patients, including several
1965:
Colonel England's 2/3rd Infantry Battalion was supported by the guns of the 104th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and a troop of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment. The tanks were late in arriving, and England postponed his attack to 1030. The battalion came under artillery fire, mostly from a battery north
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against the south west corner of the perimeter", held by the 1st Battalion, Italian 158th Infantry Regiment and 3rd Battalion, Italian 157th Infantry Regiment. Instead, in what military historians consider one of the most "disastrous example of a CO seeking to make his mark", Godfrey decided instead
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tankettes. The L3s were generally worthless, the M13/40s were effective medium tanks with four machine guns and a turret-mounted 47 mm antitank gun for its main armament that were "in many ways the equal of British armoured fighting vehicles". The 20 mm of armour on the M13/40s, while much
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On the afternoon of 3 January, Berryman met with Allen, Jerram and Frowen at Allen's headquarters at Post 40 to discuss plans for the next day. It was agreed that Allen would advance on Bardia and cut the fortress in two, supported by Frowen's guns, every available tank, MacArthur-Onslow's Bren gun
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The 2/3rd Infantry Battalion was now assailed by half a dozen Italian M13/40 tanks who freed a group of 500 Italian prisoners. The tanks continued to rumble to the south while the British crews of the Matildas "enjoying a brew, dismissed reports of them as an Antipodean exaggeration". Finally, they
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war". Captured Italian vehicles and fuel were used to haul supplies where possible. On 12 December, a Reserve Mechanical Transport company took over 80 Italian 5- and 6-ton diesel trucks that had been captured at Sidi Barrani. They were joined on 15 December by fifty 7½-ton trucks that arrived from
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Bergonzoli knew that if Bardia and Tobruk held out, a British advance further into Libya eventually must falter under the logistical difficulties of maintaining a desert force using an extended overland supply line. Not knowing how long he had to hold out, Bergonzoli was forced to ration his stocks
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and the inner ones even numbers. The actual numbers were known to the Australians from the markings on maps captured at Sidi Barrani and were also displayed on the posts themselves. In the southern corner was a third line of posts, known as the Switch Line. There were six defensive minefields and a
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Meanwhile, Captain D. I. A. Green's B Company of the 2/7th Infantry Battalion had captured Posts 26, 27 and 24. After Post 24 had been taken, two Matildas arrived and helped to take Post 22. As the prisoners were rounded up, one shot Green dead, then threw down his rifle and climbed out of the pit
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from the 2/2nd Field Regiment reported that he had lost contact with the guns and could not call in artillery fire. A wounded British tank troop commander also reported that one of his tanks had been knocked out and the other three were out of fuel or ammunition. No tank support would be available
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At a meeting with Mackay on Christmas Eve, 1940, O'Connor visited Mackay at divisional headquarters and directed him to prepare an attack on Bardia. O'Connor recommended that this be built around the 23 Matilda tanks of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel R. M. Jerram) that remained in
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An estimated 36,000 Italian soldiers were captured at Bardia, 1,703 (including 44 officers) were killed and 3,740 (including 138 officers) were wounded. A few thousand (including General Bergonzoli and three of his division commanders) escaped to Tobruk on foot or in boats. The Allies captured 26
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graduate, in an effort to prove that regular officers could command troops. Savige felt that some of the difficulties of the 17th Infantry Brigade were caused by Berryman, through an over-prescriptive and complicated battle plan. The 6th Division was fortunate to have drawn a "set piece" type of
1983:
M. H. Vause, who could speak some Italian, MacArthur-Onslow pressed on with two carriers to the Hebs el Harram, where they took over 1,000 prisoners. The tanks and the remainder of A Squadron continued along the road to Bardia under intermittent artillery fire, followed by C Company of the 2/3rd
1933:
would be required. Mackay was more sanguine about the situation, and reminded Berryman that his orders had been to capture Bardia with only two brigades. While they were discussing the matter, O'Connor and Harding arrived at 6th Division headquarters, and O'Connor readily agreed to the change of
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Although the Australian progress had been slower than that achieved during the break-in phase, the 17th Infantry Brigade had achieved remarkable results. Another ten posts, representing 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of perimeter had been captured, the Switch Line had been breached, and thousands of
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As it moved into position around Bardia in December 1940, the 6th Australian Division was still experiencing shortages. It had only two of its three artillery regiments and only the 2/1st Field Regiment was equipped with the new 25-pounders, which it had received only that month. The 2/2nd Field
809:
advanced south from Bardia, supported by artillery and the six operational Matilda tanks. Its advance allowed the 17th Australian Infantry Brigade to make progress as well and the two brigades reduced the southern sector of the fortress. The Italian garrisons in the north surrendered to the 16th
804:
exploited the breach made in the perimeter and pressed south as far as a secondary line of defences known as the Switch Line. On the second day, the 16th Australian Infantry Brigade captured the township of Bardia, cutting the fortress in two. Thousands more prisoners were taken and the Italian
2069:
The victory at Bardia enabled the Allied forces to continue their advance into Libya and capture almost all of Cyrenaica. As the first battle of the war to be commanded by an Australian general, planned by an Australian staff and fought by Australian troops, Bardia was of great interest to the
1907:
Meanwhile, Captain G. H. Halliday's D Company moved southwards against Post 19. He drew the defenders' attention with a demonstration by one platoon in front of the post while the rest of the company moved around the post and attacked silently from the rear. This maneuver took the defenders by
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149 mm medium howitzers. The large number of gun models, many of them quite old, created difficulties with the supply of spare parts. The older guns often had worn barrels, which caused problems with accuracy. Ammunition stocks were similarly old and perhaps as many as two-thirds of the
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the wadi but attacked a battery position instead and returned with 500 prisoners. The wadi was found to contain large numbers of Italian soldiers from technical units who, untrained for combat, surrendered in large numbers. One company captured over 2,000 prisoners, including 60 officers.
1564:. Last-minute efforts were made to rectify the 6th Australian Division's remaining equipment shortages. Over the last few days before the battle, some 95 additional vehicles were obtained, of which 80 were assigned to hauling ammunition. A consignment of 11,500 sleeveless leather
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battery could be spared for Sallum. An air raid on Christmas Eve killed or wounded 60 New Zealanders and Cypriots. Without a proper warning network, interception was very difficult. On 26 December eight Gloster Gladiators of No. 3 Squadron RAAF sighted and attacked ten
1224:, which received the majority of defence spending in the interwar period. The result was that when war came, the Army's equipment was of World War I vintage and its factories were only capable of producing small arms. Fortunately, these World War I-era small arms, the
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to launch an attack, in defiance of the clear instructions he had received, and against all basic military logic and common sense. Although poorly planned and executed, Godfrey's attack managed to capture Post 7 and part of Post 9, but Post 11 resisted stubbornly.
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of food and water so that O'Connor could not simply starve him out. Hunger and thirst adversely affected the morale of the Italian defenders that had already been shaken by the defeat at Sidi Barrani. So too did medical conditions undermine morale, particularly
2020:, did not receive their final orders until 45 minutes before start time, at which point the start line was 3 miles (4.8 km) away. As a consequence, the battalion arrived late, and the intended two company attack had to be carried out by just one: Captain
2106:
told its readers that Australians "in their realistic attitude towards power politics, prefer to send their boys to fight far overseas rather than fighting a battle in the suburbs of Sydney". During the battle, Wavell had received a cable from General Sir
1411:
by the 6th Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery. These positions disclosed themselves by firing at Australian patrols, which now went out nightly, mapping the antitank ditch and the barbed wire obstacles. Aerial photographs of the positions were taken by
1613:
A series of air raids were mounted against Bardia in December, in the hope of persuading the garrison to withdraw. Once it became clear that the Italians intended to stand and fight, bombing priorities shifted to the Italian airbases around Tobruk,
1580:
to obtain these in time. Some 300 pairs of gloves and 10,000-yard (5.7 mi; 9.1 km) of marking tape arrived with only hours to go. The gloves were distributed but the tape did not reach the 16th Infantry Brigade in time, so rifle cleaning
949:
attacked the Italian position at Sidi Barrani. The position was captured, 38,000 Italian soldiers were taken prisoner, and the remainder of the Italian force was driven back. The Western Desert Force pursued the Italians into Libya, and the
2130:, was unconcerned by the military implications of the loss of Libya but deeply troubled by the prospect of a political reverse that could lead to the fall of Mussolini. On 9 January 1941, he revealed his intention to senior members of the
1349:. The 2/1st Antitank Regiment had likewise been diverted, so each infantry brigade had formed an antitank company but only eleven 2-pounders were available instead of the 27 required. The infantry battalions were particularly short of
1430:
of No. 3 Squadron RAAF. British Intelligence estimated the strength of the Italian garrison at 20,000 to 23,000 with 100 guns and discounted reports of six medium and seventy light tanks as exaggerated—a serious intelligence failure.
1459:
in September 1918, when 360 guns supported an attack on a 7,000-yard (6,400 m) front. Mackay insisted that the attack required 125 rounds per gun. It had to be postponed to 3 January for this ammunition to be brought forward.
1942:
the post. About a third of its defenders had been killed in the fighting. The remaining 66 surrendered. This prompted a general collapse of the Italian position in the north. Posts 56 and 61 surrendered without a fight and
2015:
southward with the support of six Matilda tanks, all that remained in working order. The others had been hit by shells, immobilised by mines, or had simply broken down. The company commanders of the lead battalion, the
4247:
2229:
A 2012 account by Shores, Massimello and Guest, using data from both air forces had one Gladiator damaged, a CR 42 shot down and the pilot killed, six CR 42s damaged and a SM.79 force-landed near Gazala with no crew
1884:
away. The company captured eight field guns, many machine-guns and nearly 200 prisoners on the way, but casualties and the need to detach soldiers as prisoner escorts left him with only 45 men at the end of the day.
1946:
were raised over Posts 58, 60, 63 and 65, and the gun positions near Post 58. By nightfall, Eather's men had advanced as far as Post 69 and only the fourteen northernmost posts still held out in the Gerfan sector.
1560:. Efforts were made to stock 8 Field Supply Depot with seven days' supply of fuel, stores and 500 rounds per gun of ammunition. The effort to do so proceeded satisfactorily despite Italian air raids and blinding
1067:
fence and a double row of strong points. The strong points were situated approximately 800-yard (730 m) apart. Each had its own antitank ditch, concealed by thin boards. They were each armed with one or two
887:
Italy's position in the centre of the Mediterranean made it unacceptably hazardous to send ships from Britain to Egypt via that route, so British reinforcements and supplies for the area had to travel around the
1966:
of Bardia that was then engaged and silenced by the 104th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. The advance resumed, only to come under machine gun and artillery fire from Wadi el Gerfan. An eight-man section under
1093:
scattering of mines in front of some other posts. The major tactical defect of this defensive system was that if the enemy broke through, the posts could be picked off individually from the front or rear.
1857:
C. H. Smith's D Company came under effective fire from machine guns and field artillery 700 yards (640 m) to the north east. Within minutes, all but one of the company's officers and all its senior
1622:. Air raids on Bardia resumed in the lead-up to the ground assault, with 100 bombing sorties flown against Bardia between 31 December 1940 and 2 January 1941, climaxing with a particularly heavy raid by
2028:
and Brigadier General Alessandro de Guidi, the commanders of the 62nd and 63rd Infantry Divisions respectively. At this point, Honner stopped to consolidate his position and allow Lieutenant Colonel
1937:
The 2/1st Infantry Battalion began its advance on schedule at 0900, but the lead platoon came under heavy machine gun fire from Post 54, and Italian artillery knocked out the supporting mortars. The
880:
was threatened. A series of cross-border raids and skirmishes began on the frontier between Libya and Egypt. On 13 September 1940, an Italian force advanced across the frontier into Egypt, reaching
1177:
and the tankettes were no match for the British Matildas in either armour or firepower. None of the tanks at Bardia were fitted with a radio, making a coordinated counter-attack difficult.
1100:
Captured Italian L3 tankettes. In the background is the township of Bardia and its small harbour. Lower Bardia is in the middle distance; upper Bardia is atop the cliffs in the background.
1482:
Much depended on the Western Desert Force moving fuel, water and supplies forward. The 6th Australian Division Assistant Adjutant General and Quartermaster General (AA&QMG), Colonel
2187:. Bardia changed hands again in June 1942, being occupied by Axis forces for a third time and was re-taken for the last time in November unopposed, following the Allied victory at the
4277:
1346:
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of A Squadron, 2/6th Cavalry Regiment (Major Denzil MacArthur-Onslow) moved off for Bardia. Major J. N. Abbot's company advanced to the Italian posts, and attacked a group of
923:, troops and supplies were still despatched to the Middle East Command. A convoy that departed the United Kingdom in August 1940 brought guns, stores, ammunition, and three
1088:. The inner row of posts were similar, except that they lacked the antitank ditches. The posts were numbered sequentially from south to north, with the outer posts bearing
1252:, while "vigorous and realistic", was therefore hampered by shortages of equipment. These shortages were gradually remedied by deliveries from British sources. Similarly,
1393:
702:
2078:, who had enlisted and trained under the shadow of their fathers' reputation as soldiers, had come through their ordeal of fire and built a reputation of their own.
658:
1365:
1072:(47 mm antitank guns) and two to four machine guns. The weapons were fired from concrete sided pits connected by trenches to a deep underground concrete
2200:
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and fighter cover.They withdrew after firing 244 15-inch (380 mm), 270 6-inch (150 mm) and 240 4.5-inch (110 mm) shells, handing over to HMS
4252:
286:
2003:, considered the possibility of sending a force to relieve the Bardia fortress but in the end concluded that such an operation had no chance of success.
2210:
2205:
1439:
in 1918. The plan developed by Mackay and his chief of staff, Colonel Frank Berryman, involved an attack on the western side of the Bardia defences by
1137:
were out of date, resulting in excessive numbers of dud rounds. There were also several machine-gun models, with seven types of ammunition in use. The
2143:
Within the 6th Division, there were recriminations over what was seen as Berryman showing favouritism towards Robertson, a fellow regular soldier and
1521:
The port was subject to long range shelling by medium guns in Bardia, known to the Australians as "Bardia Bill" and to Italian air attacks. Only one
4257:
2163:
coastal defence guns, 7 medium guns, 216 field guns, 146 anti-tank guns, 12 medium tanks, 115 L3s, and 708 vehicles. Australian losses totalled
2011:
On the morning of 5 January, the 19th Infantry Brigade launched its attack on the Meriega sector, starting from the Bardia road and following a
3913:. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. II (facs. repr. Naval & Military Press, Uckfield ed.).
2183:, Rommel's first offensive in Cyrenaica. Further fighting occurred from 31 December 1941 – 2 January 1942, before Bardia was re-taken by the
1299:
1236:. Most other equipment was obsolescent and would have to be replaced but new factories were required to produce the latest items, such as
1541:
1334:
651:
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Australian public; congratulatory messages poured in and AIF recruitment surged. John Hetherington, a war correspondent, reported that,
1537:
biplane fighters over the Gulf of Sallum. The Australians claimed to have shot down two CR 42s, while three Gladiators were damaged.
916:
596:
1775:
The infantry scrambled to their feet and rushed forward while the sappers hurried to break down the sides of the antitank ditch with
1049:
1041:
4180:(25 June 1946). Operations in the Middle East from 7th December, 1940 to 7th February, 1941 (Report). Wavell's Official Despatches.
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1749:. The leading companies began moving to the start line at 0416. The artillery opened fire at 0530. On crossing the start line the
1033:
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is stony rather than sandy, but it is no less arid, and supports little vegetation. Close to the coast, the ground was broken by
3832:. New Zealand in the Second World War. Wellington, New Zealand: War History Branch, New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs.
1345:. The 2/1st Machine Gun Battalion had been diverted to Britain and its place taken by a British Army machine-gun battalion, the
746:
formation took part, the first to be commanded by an Australian general and the first to be planned by an Australian staff. The
1503:
1045:
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United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. III (pbk. facs. repr. Naval & Military Press, Uckfield ed.). London: HMSO.
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Italian defenders had been captured. For the Italians, halting the Australian advance would be an immensely difficult task.
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Despite the rivalry between regular and reserve officers, the 6th Australian Division staff was an effective organisation.
971:
869:
4113:(13 June 1946a). Operations in the Middle East from August, 1939 to November, 1940 (Report). Wavell's Official Despatches.
1232:, were solid and reliable weapons that would remain in service throughout the war; they were augmented by the more recent
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76:
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United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. IV (Facs. repr. pbk. Naval & Military Press, Uckfield ed.). London:
3667:
1938:
924:
707:
1841:
of Brigadier Stanley Savige's 17th Infantry Brigade, reinforced by two companies of Lieutenant Colonel T. G. Walker's
3986:
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2122:
Mackay wrote in a diary note on 6 January that the "Germans cannot possibly keep out of Africa now." In Germany, the
896:
4272:
4031:
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2048:
later wrote, "the last to give in belonged to a garrison whose resolute fight would have done credit to any army."
1654:
1369:
1202:
1063:
These divisions guarded an 18-mile (29 km) perimeter which had an almost continuous antitank ditch, extensive
3974:
3944:
2075:
1798:
1129:
1125:
4267:
1638:
on the night of 2/3 January 1941. Lysanders of No. 208 Squadron RAF directed the artillery fire. Fighters from
943:
1853:
The artillery barrage came down at 1125, and five minutes later the advance began. The sun had now risen, and
3941:
The Mediterranean and Middle East: British Fortunes Reach their Lowest Ebb (September 1941 to September 1942)
2044:
earned in the First World War—and shook his hand. "On a battlefield where Italian troops won little honour",
1024:
963:
873:
495:
2036:
to pass through. However, Honner took the surrender of Posts 1, 2 and 3 and his men did not stop advancing.
4282:
3771:] (in Italian). Vol. I. Rome: Esercito. Corpo di stato maggiore. Ufficio storico. annex 32. 1979.
2061:
2017:
985:) was brought forward from Egypt to replace it and Mackay assumed command of the area on 21 December 1940.
1056:, part of the dismounted Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Vittorio Emanuele II" and a machine gun company of the
3966:
3936:
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company and a platoon of A Company worked along the Wadi Scemmas, eventually collecting 3,000 prisoners.
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garrison now held out only in the northern and southernmost parts of the fortress. On the third day, the
537:
1572:. The 17th Australian Infantry Brigade finally received its 3-inch mortars but found them lacking their
1048:
and the rest of the 62nd Infantry Division Marmarica. Bergonzoli also had the remnants of the disbanded
4262:
4198:
1568:
for protection against the cold and barbed wire were distributed, as were 350 sets of captured Italian
1149:
was a bulky and complicated weapon that was also prone to stoppages. Some of these had been rebuilt as
490:
829:, German intervention in the fighting in North Africa, changing the nature of the war in the theatre.
1381:
1237:
1150:
1146:
979:
843:
751:
697:
351:
313:
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2100:, which ran the headline "Hardy Wild-Eyed Aussies Called World's Finest Troops". An article in the
1930:
1892:
1859:
1448:
1440:
1307:
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approval for their construction was slow in coming. The training of the 6th Australian Division in
1019:
975:
893:
806:
801:
766:
747:
611:
556:
4183:
4116:
1518:. Stores were hauled to 8 Field Supply Depot by the New Zealand 4th Mechanical Transport Company.
3877:; Stitt, Commander G. M. S.; Molony, Brigadier C. J. C.; Toomer, Air Vice-Marshal S. E. (1959) .
3798:
3736:
3697:
2096:
1992:
and his staff had departed on foot for Tobruk during the afternoon, in a party of about 120 men.
1959:
1850:
until these had been replenished. Sell decided that the attack must be carried out without them.
1213:
1121:
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1984:
Infantry Battalion. The column entered the town at 1600, its tanks firing the occasional shot.
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884:
on 16 September, where the advance was halted until logistical difficulties could be overcome.
818:
687:
485:
478:
330:
1337:
was on hand, as the rest of the regiment was deployed in the defence of the frontier posts at
2180:
2123:
2112:
1522:
1397:
1376:, with twenty four and the 7th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, which was equipped with two
1221:
1174:
860:
Italy declared war on the United Kingdom on 10 June 1940. Bordering on the Italian colony of
826:
623:
576:
378:
2111:
stressing the political importance of such victories in the United States, where President
2088:
In the United States, newspapers praised the 6th Division. Favourable articles appeared in
1704:
1689:
1647:
1635:
1417:
1385:
1354:
1330:
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rather than to regular officers, who had been publicly critical of the defence policies of
1089:
1069:
939:
563:
473:
3666:. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. III. London:
1760:, came under Italian mortar and artillery fire. The lead platoons advanced accompanied by
1729:
caused part of the cliff near the town to give way, taking Italian gun positions with it.
1279:, 19th Infantry Brigade. Back row, left to right: Colonel Frank Berryman, GSO1; Brigadier
8:
1707:
1643:
1639:
1627:
1603:
1471:
1444:
1268:
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1229:
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946:
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762:
712:
507:
442:
416:
361:
217:
3885:. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. I. London:
4188:
4165:
4121:
2102:
2090:
2000:
1979:
Australians, and 3,000 unwounded Italians. Leaving a small party at the hospital under
1754:
1696:
1670:
1623:
1515:
1507:
1249:
1154:
920:
581:
549:
423:
409:
2140:; henceforth, German troops played an important role in the fighting in North Africa.
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4157:
4098:
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4039:
4014:
4004:
3982:
3948:
3918:
3890:
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3772:
3765:
La prima offensiva britannica in Africa settentrionale (ottobre 1940 – febbraio 1941)
3740:
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3671:
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1811:
1765:
1663:
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778:
731:
682:
668:
542:
521:
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402:
395:
371:
356:
325:
318:
32:
3911:
The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Germans Come to the Help of their Ally (1941)
1263:
1256:
had to be sent to the Middle East without aircraft or equipment and supplied by the
797:
to enter the fortress and capture all their objectives, along with 8,000 prisoners.
4212:
4177:
4149:
4110:
2025:
2012:
1996:
1926:
1846:
1686:
1565:
1550:
1427:
1306:, as the Western Desert Force was renamed on 1 January 1941, had been a student at
1276:
912:
865:
739:
528:
514:
468:
366:
3883:
The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Early Successes Against Italy (to May 1941)
3788:
3726:
3687:
3543:
1104:
The defence was supported by a strong artillery component that included forty-one
1096:
848:
4080:
1676:
1511:
1499:
1436:
1373:
1350:
1257:
1225:
743:
385:
1364:'s 6th Australian Division Artillery with part of the XIII Corps artillery: the
958:, cutting off land communications between the strong Italian garrison there and
4140:
3971:
The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Destruction of the Axis Forces in Africa
3587:
2041:
2029:
1967:
1854:
1757:
1745:
The assault troops rose early on 3 January 1941, ate a meal and drank a tot of
1720:
1631:
1573:
1452:
1361:
1314:
1280:
1209:
1108:
20 mm antiaircraft guns; eighty-five 47 mm antitank guns; twenty-six
1105:
994:
390:
152:
3571:
1077:
4236:
4161:
4153:
4102:
4063:
A History of the Mediterranean Air War: North Africa June 1940 – January 1942
4053:
4018:
3996:
1901:
1487:
1408:
1201:
The 6th Australian Division had been formed in September 1939 as part of the
1173:
thicker than that of the tankettes, could still be penetrated by the British
998:
761:, Libya, assisted by air support and naval gunfire and under the cover of an
591:
185:
91:
78:
70:
3894:
3866:
3806:
3627:
2074:
Men who since childhood had read and heard of the exploits in battle of the
4224:
3776:
3744:
3705:
3683:
3675:
3654:
2127:
2021:
1834:
1615:
1557:
1401:
881:
601:
586:
4248:
Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom
3837:
3769:
The First British Offensive in North Africa (October 1940 – February 1941)
769:
attacked at dawn from the west, where the defences were known to be weak.
264:
1971:
1582:
1569:
1561:
1272:
1267:
Senior officers of the 6th Division. Front row, left to right: Brigadier
1245:
1165:
1064:
1053:
982:
904:
774:
754:
616:
205:
167:
1822:
were engaged by an antitank platoon of three 2 pounders mounted on
1080:
and the weapons pits lacked overhead cover. Each post was occupied by a
814:
outside the fortress. In all, some 36,000 Italian prisoners were taken.
3784:
3619:
2116:
2045:
1955:
1943:
1784:
1725:, which continued firing throughout the battle. At one point fire from
1660:
1653:
A naval bombardment was carried out on the morning of 3 January by the
1534:
1506:
began working at the port on 18 December. They were soon joined by two
1342:
1338:
1318:
1190:
877:
790:
606:
4138:
Stockings, Craig (2010). "The Anzac Legend and the Battle of Bardia".
1866:
2132:
2108:
1714:
1682:
1296:
1186:
1158:
822:
137:
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821:
forces to continue the advance into Libya and capture almost all of
636:
1980:
1870:
25-pounder gun crew of the 2/1st Field Artillery Regiment at Bardia
1138:
781:
and filled in and broke down the sides of the anti-tank ditch with
40:
4061:
Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell (2012).
1950:
1556:
brought another 200 tons. The water was taken to storage tanks at
1463:
1153:
which, while an improvement, were still unreliable. The principal
1076:
which offered protection from artillery fire. The trenches had no
1018:
After the disaster at Sidi Barrani and the withdrawal from Egypt,
872:
country, Egypt was occupied by the British under the terms of the
3861:. Vol. VIII. Chatham, Kent: Institution of Royal Engineers.
1993:
1788:
1776:
1769:
1424:
1311:
1081:
782:
4035:
4028:
The Mediterranean, South-East Europe and North Africa 1939–1941
3935:; Flynn, F. C.; Molony, C. J. C. & Gleave, T. P. (2004a) .
2894:
2892:
2150:
1823:
1802:
Italian artillery firing on Allied positions during the battle.
1780:
1761:
1619:
1530:
1495:
1475:
1073:
959:
955:
876:, which allowed British military forces to occupy Egypt if the
786:
770:
758:
66:
1737:
1577:
1169:
1052:, some 6,000 Frontier Guard (GaF) troops, three companies of
967:
861:
4026:
Schreiber, Gerhard; Stegemann, Bernd; Vogel, Detlef (1995).
2889:
2405:
1116:
65 mm infantry support guns; a hundred and forty-seven
3978:
3914:
3886:
2369:
1876:
1791:. The two companies succeeded in taking 400 prisoners. The
1182:
1145:, had a low rate of fire and a reputation for jamming. The
1002:
2831:
2829:
2827:
2825:
2681:
2679:
2677:
2675:
4278:
Land battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom
2566:
2564:
2311:
2309:
2307:
2305:
1746:
4003:. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press.
1212:
ordered that all commands in the division were to go to
810:
Australia Infantry Brigade and the Support Group of the
4025:
4001:
Australian Battalion Commanders in the Second World War
3559:
3474:
3008:
3006:
2952:
2940:
2877:
2822:
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2477:
1810:(Lieutenant Colonel V. T. England), accompanied by the
892:. For this reason, it was more convenient to reinforce
2561:
2302:
1875:
smiling broadly. He was immediately thrown back and a
1546:
arrived at Sallum with 3,000 tons of water, while the
1366:
104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
4196:
4060:
3531:
3266:
3264:
2922:
2201:
List of Australian military equipment of World War II
2065:
Italian soldiers captured during the Battle of Bardia
1741:
Battle of Bardia. Position at dusk on 3 January 1941.
3251:
3249:
3003:
1609:
bombarding Bardia before the assault, 2 January 1941
915:
and equipment was urgently required to re-equip the
730:
was fought between 3 and 5 January 1941, as part of
3859:
History of the Corps of Royal Engineers (1938–1948)
3618:. The Second World War, Army. Vol. I. London:
2800:
2798:
2796:
2292:
2290:
1128:105 mm guns; and twenty-seven 120 mm and
3261:
2211:List of Italian military equipment in World War II
2206:List of British military equipment of World War II
1360:To make up for this, O'Connor augmented Brigadier
1120:75 mm and 77 mm field guns; seventy-six
757:) assaulted the strongly held Italian fortress of
3246:
1494:Supplies were stocked at 8 Field Supply Depot at
962:. On 11 December, Wavell decided to withdraw the
742:. It was the first battle of the war in which an
4234:
3521:
3519:
2793:
2287:
143:
4192:(Supplement). 25 June 1946. pp. 3261–3269.
4125:(Supplement). 13 June 1946. pp. 2997–3006.
3856:
3852:– via New Zealand Electronic Text Centre.
3553:
2993:
2991:
2759:
2757:
2744:
2742:
2277:
2275:
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1388:. There were also two antitank regiments, the
734:, the first British military operation of the
45:Australian troops enter Bardia, 4 January 1941
3516:
1044:; and the southern ("Mereiga") sector by the
652:
280:
158:
4085:Bardia: Myth, Reality and the Heirs of Anzac
3728:Air War Against Germany and Italy, 1939–1943
2988:
2754:
2739:
2429:
903:with troops from Australia, New Zealand and
837:
621:
4253:Battles of World War II involving Australia
2272:
2255:
1593:
1287:, AA&QMG. All six had been awarded the
1008:
294:
128:
3613:
2898:
2136:to send German troops to North Africa, in
2119:Act enacted; it became law in March 1941.
1368:, equipped with sixteen 25 pounders;
1164:As a "mobile reserve" there were thirteen
1036:; the centre ("Ponticelli") sector by the
800:In the second phase of the operation, the
659:
645:
287:
273:
4079:
3961:
3931:
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3597:
3593:
3577:
3498:
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3228:
3216:
3168:
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2816:
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2721:
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2594:
2570:
2555:
2531:
2519:
2507:
2495:
2459:
2447:
2363:
2296:
2249:
1407:Italian gun positions were located using
3901:
3873:
3825:
3689:The Government and the People, 1939–1941
3639:. Malvern, Victoria: Melway Publishing.
3581:
3565:
3549:
2958:
2946:
2883:
2835:
2685:
2483:
2411:
2375:
2315:
2060:
1949:
1865:
1797:
1768:—12-foot (3.7 m) pipes packed with
1736:
1597:
1462:
1372:, with twelve; the 51st Field Regiment,
1325:Regiment was still equipped with twelve
1262:
1095:
847:
4258:Battles of World War II involving Italy
4109:
3995:
3682:
3634:
3462:
3438:
3426:
3144:
2351:
1585:was torn into strips and used instead.
1498:, where a jetty was constructed by the
1271:, 16th Infantry Brigade; Major General
1260:, at the expense of its own squadrons.
1168:medium tanks and a hundred and fifteen
176:
4235:
3614:Carter, J. A. H.; Kann, D. N. (1952).
1887:Lieutenant Colonel A. H. L. Godfrey's
3844:from the original on 13 February 2012
3763:
3661:
3537:
3475:Schreiber, Stegemann & Vogel 1995
3354:
3342:
3012:
2583:Schreiber, Stegemann & Vogel 1995
2544:Schreiber, Stegemann & Vogel 1995
2339:
1904:, the second attempt was successful.
1650:patrolled between Bardia and Tobruk.
1474:, returning to a landing ground near
907:. Nonetheless, even when Britain was
666:
640:
268:
4065:. Vol. I. London: Grub Street.
3783:
3616:Maintenance in the Field (1939–1942)
3525:
3510:
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3294:
3255:
3240:
3204:
3192:
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3096:
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2982:
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2859:
2847:
2787:
2775:
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2748:
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2630:
2471:
2435:
2423:
2399:
2387:
2327:
2281:
2266:
2173:
1764:of the 2/1st Field Company carrying
1310:along with Mackay's chief of staff,
3637:Iven G. Mackay: Citizen and Soldier
2923:Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012
789:. This allowed the infantry and 23
13:
4131:
1939:3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
1514:and a pioneer detachment from the
1050:64th Infantry Division "Catanzaro"
1042:62nd Infantry Division "Marmarica"
954:established itself to the west of
817:The victory at Bardia enabled the
14:
4294:
3795:Australia in the War of 1939–1945
3751:from the original on 11 July 2015
3733:Australia in the War of 1939–1945
3712:from the original on 4 March 2016
3694:Australia in the War of 1939–1945
1540:On 23 December the water carrier
1283:, 17th Infantry Brigade; Colonel
1058:60th Infantry Division "Sabratha"
4218:
4206:
4032:Germany and the Second World War
3875:Playfair, Major-General I. S. O.
3813:from the original on 9 July 2015
3504:
3492:
3480:
2145:Royal Military College, Duntroon
1449:17th Australian Infantry Brigade
1441:16th Australian Infantry Brigade
1370:F Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
1203:Second Australian Imperial Force
1034:2nd CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre"
807:19th Australian Infantry Brigade
802:17th Australian Infantry Brigade
767:16th Australian Infantry Brigade
211:
199:
178:
160:
145:
130:
39:
3975:History of the Second World War
3945:History of the Second World War
3857:Packenham-Walsh, R. P. (1958).
3668:Her Majesty's Stationery Office
3468:
3456:
3444:
3432:
3420:
3408:
3396:
3384:
3372:
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3348:
3336:
3324:
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3288:
3276:
3234:
3222:
3210:
3198:
3186:
3174:
3162:
3150:
3138:
3126:
3114:
3102:
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3078:
3066:
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3042:
3030:
3018:
2976:
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2928:
2904:
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2853:
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2810:
2781:
2769:
2727:
2715:
2703:
2691:
2660:
2648:
2636:
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2612:
2600:
2588:
2576:
2549:
2537:
2525:
2513:
2501:
2489:
2465:
2453:
2441:
2417:
2393:
2381:
2223:
2076:First Australian Imperial Force
1999:, the commander of the Italian
1915:
1400:, equipped with 2-pounders and
1126:Canon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider
1046:63rd Infantry Division "Cirene"
2357:
2345:
2333:
2321:
2243:
2006:
1220:. These policies favoured the
1038:1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo"
856:December 1940 to February 1941
1:
3606:
2157:
1478:, after a patrol over Bardia.
997:, the coastal portion of the
874:Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936
832:
2237:
2051:
1829:
1576:. An officer dashed back to
1347:1st Northumberland Fusiliers
1112:anti-tank rifles; forty-one
988:
7:
3826:Loughnan, R. J. M. (1963).
3735:. Vol. III. Canberra:
2194:
2189:Second Battle of El Alamein
2056:
1732:
1457:Battle of St. Quentin Canal
1289:Distinguished Service Order
1118:Cannone da 75/32 modello 37
1114:Cannone da 65/17 modello 13
917:British Expeditionary Force
10:
4299:
4034:1939–1941. Vol. III.
2185:2nd South African Division
2115:was attempting to get the
1970:F. W. Squires was sent to
1151:Fiat-Revelli Modello 1935s
1130:Obice da 149/12 modello 14
1025:Generale di Corpo d'Armata
1013:
841:
3696:. Vol. I. Canberra:
3635:Chapman, Ivan D. (1975).
2018:2/11th Infantry Battalion
1891:was supposed to "stage a
1860:non-commissioned officers
1588:
1333:. Only A Squadron of the
1321:, particularly at night.
1196:
1147:Fiat-Revelli Modello 1914
844:Italian invasion of Egypt
838:Italian invasion of Egypt
678:
306:
236:
223:
192:
119:
49:
38:
30:
25:
4154:10.1177/0968344509348304
3965:; et al. (2004b) .
3725:Herington, John (1954).
3662:Gwyer, J. M. A. (1964).
2216:
2034:2/4th Infantry Battalion
1923:2/8th Infantry Battalion
1889:2/6th Infantry Battalion
1843:2/7th Infantry Battalion
1839:2/5th Infantry Battalion
1808:2/3rd Infantry Battalion
1793:2/2nd Infantry Battalion
1751:2/1st Infantry Battalion
1594:Air and naval operations
1308:Staff College, Camberley
1302:, the chief of staff of
1009:Planning and preparation
919:after its losses in the
909:threatened with invasion
612:3rd Indian Motor Brigade
298:Western Desert Campaign
4273:Western Desert campaign
3905:; et al. (2004) .
3799:Australian War Memorial
3737:Australian War Memorial
3698:Australian War Memorial
2645:, pp. 44–45, 18–20
2138:Unternehmen Sonnenblume
2097:Washington Times-Herald
1960:7th Royal Tank Regiment
1753:, under the command of
1353:and ammunition for the
1122:Skoda 100 mm Model 1916
976:6th Australian Division
938:On 9 December 1940 the
929:7th Royal Tank Regiment
795:7th Royal Tank Regiment
748:6th Australian Division
736:Western Desert campaign
4087:. Sydney: UNSW Press.
3417:, pp. 2, 269, 274
2899:Carter & Kann 1952
2086:
2066:
1962:
1871:
1803:
1742:
1695:provided aircraft for
1610:
1528:Savoia-Marchetti SM.79
1479:
1470:biplane aircraft from
1335:2/6th Cavalry Regiment
1292:
1234:Bren light machine gun
1218:right wing politicians
1189:, the results of poor
1101:
970:to participate in the
857:
622:
193:Commanders and leaders
16:Battle of World War II
4268:Libya in World War II
2181:Operation Sonnenblume
2154:without the prince."
2113:Franklin D. Roosevelt
2072:
2064:
1953:
1931:19th Infantry Brigade
1869:
1801:
1740:
1705:Insect-class gunboats
1601:
1504:16th Infantry Brigade
1466:
1398:Royal Horse Artillery
1382:6-inch howitzers
1357:was in short supply.
1266:
1242:25-pounder field guns
1222:Royal Australian Navy
1099:
1028:(Lieutenant General)
972:East African Campaign
952:7th Armoured Division
942:under the command of
851:
827:Operation Sonnenblume
812:7th Armoured Division
624:Sonderkommando Blaich
237:Casualties and losses
92:31.76000°N 25.09500°E
3596:, pp. 281–282;
3554:Packenham-Walsh 1958
3552:, pp. 289–290;
2414:, pp. 271, 282.
2354:, pp. 3000–3001
1648:No. 274 Squadron RAF
1636:No. 216 Squadron RAF
1445:Arthur "Tubby" Allen
1418:No. 208 Squadron RAF
1355:Boys anti-tank rifle
1244:and motor vehicles;
1070:Cannone da 47/32 M35
1040:and elements of the
940:Western Desert Force
897:Sir Archibald Wavell
4283:January 1941 events
4038:: Clarendon Press.
3584:, pp. 149–168.
2378:, pp. 190–192.
1766:Bangalore torpedoes
1644:No. 73 Squadron RAF
1640:No. 33 Squadron RAF
1628:No. 70 Squadron RAF
1472:No. 3 Squadron RAAF
1254:No. 3 Squadron RAAF
1230:Vickers machine gun
1110:Solothurn S-18/1000
1030:Annibale Bergonzoli
966:and send it to the
964:4th Indian Division
901:Middle East Command
779:Bangalore torpedoes
571:Associated articles
259:400+ artillery guns
218:Annibale Bergonzoli
88: /
4189:The London Gazette
4122:The London Gazette
3963:Playfair, I. S. O.
3933:Playfair, I. S. O.
3903:Playfair, I. S. O.
3829:Divisional Cavalry
3580:, pp. 95–96;
3513:, pp. 303–304
3501:, pp. 378–379
3489:, pp. 270–273
3477:, pp. 654–657
3393:, pp. 257–262
3381:, pp. 255–257
3369:, pp. 196–197
3357:, pp. 152–153
3333:, pp. 237–238
3321:, pp. 192–193
3285:, pp. 232–233
3258:, pp. 194–195
3243:, pp. 189–190
3231:, pp. 220–221
3207:, pp. 181–182
3123:, pp. 213–214
3111:, pp. 209–211
3099:, pp. 174–177
3087:, pp. 199–203
3063:, pp. 172–173
3039:, pp. 169–170
3027:, pp. 166–168
3000:, pp. 165–166
2985:, pp. 164–165
2973:, pp. 355–356
2913:, pp. 157–158
2901:, pp. 110–112
2850:, pp. 158–159
2819:, pp. 122–123
2790:, pp. 148–151
2736:, pp. 129–130
2609:, pp. 315–316
2597:, pp. 118–119
2573:, pp. 327–330
2558:, pp. 336–337
2498:, pp. 323–324
2474:, pp. 147–148
2426:, pp. 146–147
2402:, pp. 140–141
2390:, pp. 133–139
2103:Chicago Daily News
2091:The New York Times
2067:
1963:
1872:
1804:
1755:Lieutenant Colonel
1743:
1624:Vickers Wellington
1611:
1516:Palestine Regiment
1480:
1331:4.5-inch howitzers
1293:
1155:medium machine gun
1102:
925:armoured regiments
921:Dunkirk evacuation
858:
670:Operation Compass
97:31.76000; 25.09500
4263:Conflicts in 1941
4178:Wavell, Archibald
4111:Wavell, Archibald
4094:978-1-921410-25-3
4072:978-1-908117-07-6
4045:978-0-19-822884-4
4010:978-0-521-76345-5
3924:978-1-84574-066-5
3646:978-0-909439-02-6
3600:, pp. 96–97.
2174:Subsequent events
1921:carriers and the
1812:Bren gun carriers
1510:companies of the
1484:George Alan Vasey
1468:Gloster Gladiator
1422:Gloster Gladiator
1414:Westland Lysander
1291:in the Great War.
1143:light machine gun
890:Cape of Good Hope
854:Operation Compass
773:blew gaps in the
763:artillery barrage
732:Operation Compass
721:
720:
634:
633:
314:Invasion of Egypt
263:
262:
115:
114:
33:Operation Compass
4290:
4223:
4222:
4221:
4211:
4210:
4209:
4202:
4193:
4181:
4173:
4126:
4114:
4106:
4081:Stockings, Craig
4076:
4057:
4022:
3992:
3967:Butler, J. R. M.
3958:
3937:Butler, J. R. M.
3928:
3907:Butler, J. R. M.
3898:
3879:Butler, J. R. M.
3870:
3853:
3851:
3849:
3822:
3820:
3818:
3780:
3760:
3758:
3756:
3721:
3719:
3717:
3679:
3658:
3631:
3601:
3591:
3585:
3575:
3569:
3563:
3557:
3547:
3541:
3535:
3529:
3523:
3514:
3508:
3502:
3496:
3490:
3484:
3478:
3472:
3466:
3460:
3454:
3448:
3442:
3436:
3430:
3424:
3418:
3412:
3406:
3400:
3394:
3388:
3382:
3376:
3370:
3364:
3358:
3352:
3346:
3340:
3334:
3328:
3322:
3316:
3310:
3304:
3298:
3292:
3286:
3280:
3274:
3268:
3259:
3253:
3244:
3238:
3232:
3226:
3220:
3214:
3208:
3202:
3196:
3190:
3184:
3178:
3172:
3166:
3160:
3154:
3148:
3142:
3136:
3130:
3124:
3118:
3112:
3106:
3100:
3094:
3088:
3082:
3076:
3070:
3064:
3058:
3052:
3046:
3040:
3034:
3028:
3022:
3016:
3010:
3001:
2995:
2986:
2980:
2974:
2968:
2962:
2956:
2950:
2944:
2938:
2932:
2926:
2920:
2914:
2908:
2902:
2896:
2887:
2881:
2875:
2869:
2863:
2857:
2851:
2845:
2839:
2833:
2820:
2814:
2808:
2802:
2791:
2785:
2779:
2773:
2767:
2761:
2752:
2746:
2737:
2731:
2725:
2719:
2713:
2707:
2701:
2695:
2689:
2683:
2670:
2669:, pp. 40–41
2664:
2658:
2652:
2646:
2640:
2634:
2633:, pp. 54–55
2628:
2622:
2616:
2610:
2604:
2598:
2592:
2586:
2580:
2574:
2568:
2559:
2553:
2547:
2546:, pp. 72–73
2541:
2535:
2529:
2523:
2517:
2511:
2505:
2499:
2493:
2487:
2481:
2475:
2469:
2463:
2457:
2451:
2445:
2439:
2433:
2427:
2421:
2415:
2409:
2403:
2397:
2391:
2385:
2379:
2373:
2367:
2361:
2355:
2349:
2343:
2337:
2331:
2325:
2319:
2313:
2300:
2294:
2285:
2279:
2270:
2264:
2253:
2247:
2231:
2227:
2170:
2166:
2084:
2026:Ruggero Tracchia
2013:creeping barrage
1997:Giuseppe Tellera
1927:Horace Robertson
1847:forward observer
1687:aircraft carrier
1502:. Troops of the
1486:said "This is a
1277:Horace Robertson
1141:, the principal
947:Richard O'Connor
933:Matilda II tanks
931:, equipped with
927:, including the
913:Battle of France
866:Kingdom of Egypt
740:Second World War
728:Battle of Bardia
673:
671:
661:
654:
647:
638:
637:
627:
301:
299:
289:
282:
275:
266:
265:
253:13 medium tanks
251:36,000 captured
216:
215:
214:
204:
203:
202:
188:
184:
182:
181:
170:
166:
164:
163:
155:
151:
149:
148:
140:
136:
134:
133:
103:
102:
100:
99:
98:
93:
89:
86:
85:
84:
81:
57:3–5 January 1941
51:
50:
43:
26:Battle of Bardia
23:
22:
4298:
4297:
4293:
4292:
4291:
4289:
4288:
4287:
4233:
4232:
4229:
4219:
4217:
4207:
4205:
4197:
4182:
4176:
4137:
4134:
4132:Further reading
4129:
4115:
4095:
4073:
4046:
4011:
3989:
3955:
3925:
3847:
3845:
3816:
3814:
3754:
3752:
3715:
3713:
3647:
3609:
3604:
3592:
3588:
3576:
3572:
3564:
3560:
3548:
3544:
3536:
3532:
3524:
3517:
3509:
3505:
3497:
3493:
3485:
3481:
3473:
3469:
3461:
3457:
3449:
3445:
3437:
3433:
3425:
3421:
3413:
3409:
3401:
3397:
3389:
3385:
3377:
3373:
3365:
3361:
3353:
3349:
3341:
3337:
3329:
3325:
3317:
3313:
3305:
3301:
3293:
3289:
3281:
3277:
3269:
3262:
3254:
3247:
3239:
3235:
3227:
3223:
3215:
3211:
3203:
3199:
3191:
3187:
3179:
3175:
3167:
3163:
3155:
3151:
3143:
3139:
3131:
3127:
3119:
3115:
3107:
3103:
3095:
3091:
3083:
3079:
3071:
3067:
3059:
3055:
3047:
3043:
3035:
3031:
3023:
3019:
3011:
3004:
2996:
2989:
2981:
2977:
2969:
2965:
2957:
2953:
2945:
2941:
2933:
2929:
2921:
2917:
2909:
2905:
2897:
2890:
2882:
2878:
2870:
2866:
2858:
2854:
2846:
2842:
2834:
2823:
2815:
2811:
2803:
2794:
2786:
2782:
2774:
2770:
2762:
2755:
2747:
2740:
2732:
2728:
2720:
2716:
2708:
2704:
2696:
2692:
2684:
2673:
2665:
2661:
2657:, pp. 9–14
2653:
2649:
2641:
2637:
2629:
2625:
2617:
2613:
2605:
2601:
2593:
2589:
2581:
2577:
2569:
2562:
2554:
2550:
2542:
2538:
2530:
2526:
2518:
2514:
2506:
2502:
2494:
2490:
2482:
2478:
2470:
2466:
2458:
2454:
2446:
2442:
2434:
2430:
2422:
2418:
2410:
2406:
2398:
2394:
2386:
2382:
2374:
2370:
2362:
2358:
2350:
2346:
2338:
2334:
2326:
2322:
2314:
2303:
2295:
2288:
2280:
2273:
2265:
2256:
2248:
2244:
2240:
2235:
2234:
2228:
2224:
2219:
2197:
2176:
2168:
2164:
2160:
2085:
2082:
2059:
2054:
2009:
1918:
1832:
1735:
1656:Queen Elizabeth
1596:
1591:
1533:escorted by 24
1512:Cyprus Regiment
1500:Royal Engineers
1437:Hindenburg Line
1394:106th Regiments
1374:Royal Artillery
1258:Royal Air Force
1199:
1016:
1011:
991:
852:Battle Area of
846:
840:
835:
825:, which led to
744:Australian Army
724:
723:
722:
717:
674:
669:
667:
665:
635:
630:
582:Devil's gardens
568:
448:2nd Bir el Gubi
438:1st Bir el Gubi
302:
297:
295:
293:
258:
256:
254:
252:
250:
248:
243:
212:
210:
200:
198:
179:
177:
173:
161:
159:
146:
144:
131:
129:
96:
94:
90:
87:
82:
79:
77:
75:
74:
73:
44:
17:
12:
11:
5:
4296:
4286:
4285:
4280:
4275:
4270:
4265:
4260:
4255:
4250:
4245:
4228:
4227:
4215:
4195:
4194:
4174:
4141:War in History
4133:
4130:
4128:
4127:
4107:
4093:
4077:
4071:
4058:
4044:
4023:
4009:
3997:Pratten, Garth
3993:
3987:
3959:
3953:
3929:
3923:
3899:
3871:
3854:
3823:
3781:
3761:
3722:
3680:
3664:Grand Strategy
3659:
3645:
3632:
3610:
3608:
3605:
3603:
3602:
3598:Playfair 2004b
3594:Playfair 2004a
3586:
3578:Playfair 2004a
3570:
3558:
3556:, p. 238.
3542:
3540:, p. 374.
3530:
3515:
3503:
3499:Stockings 2009
3491:
3487:Stockings 2009
3479:
3467:
3455:
3451:Stockings 2009
3443:
3431:
3419:
3415:Stockings 2009
3407:
3395:
3391:Stockings 2009
3383:
3379:Stockings 2009
3371:
3359:
3347:
3335:
3331:Stockings 2009
3323:
3311:
3299:
3287:
3283:Stockings 2009
3275:
3271:Stockings 2009
3260:
3245:
3233:
3229:Stockings 2009
3221:
3217:Stockings 2009
3209:
3197:
3185:
3173:
3169:Stockings 2009
3161:
3157:Stockings 2009
3149:
3137:
3125:
3121:Stockings 2009
3113:
3109:Stockings 2009
3101:
3089:
3085:Stockings 2009
3077:
3073:Stockings 2009
3065:
3053:
3049:Stockings 2009
3041:
3029:
3017:
3015:, p. 149.
3002:
2987:
2975:
2971:Stockings 2009
2963:
2961:, p. 286.
2951:
2949:, p. 284.
2939:
2927:
2925:, p. 107.
2915:
2903:
2888:
2886:, p. 279.
2876:
2864:
2852:
2840:
2838:, p. 280.
2821:
2817:Stockings 2009
2809:
2805:Herington 1954
2792:
2780:
2768:
2753:
2738:
2726:
2722:Stockings 2009
2714:
2702:
2698:Herington 1954
2690:
2688:, p. 283.
2671:
2659:
2647:
2635:
2623:
2619:Stockings 2009
2611:
2607:Stockings 2009
2599:
2595:Stockings 2009
2587:
2575:
2571:Stockings 2009
2560:
2556:Stockings 2009
2548:
2536:
2532:Stockings 2009
2524:
2520:Stockings 2009
2512:
2508:Stockings 2009
2500:
2496:Stockings 2009
2488:
2486:, p. 282.
2476:
2464:
2460:Stockings 2009
2452:
2448:Stockings 2009
2440:
2428:
2416:
2404:
2392:
2380:
2368:
2364:Stockings 2009
2356:
2344:
2332:
2320:
2318:, p. 287.
2301:
2297:Stockings 2009
2286:
2271:
2254:
2250:Stockings 2009
2241:
2239:
2236:
2233:
2232:
2221:
2220:
2218:
2215:
2214:
2213:
2208:
2203:
2196:
2193:
2175:
2172:
2159:
2156:
2080:
2058:
2055:
2053:
2050:
2042:Military Cross
2030:Ivan Dougherty
2008:
2005:
1968:Lance Corporal
1917:
1914:
1831:
1828:
1758:Kenneth Eather
1734:
1731:
1632:Bristol Bombay
1595:
1592:
1590:
1587:
1453:Stanley Savige
1420:, escorted by
1362:Edmund Herring
1315:Frank Berryman
1281:Stanley Savige
1238:3-inch mortars
1228:rifle and the
1210:Robert Menzies
1207:Prime Minister
1198:
1195:
1106:Breda Model 35
1015:
1012:
1010:
1007:
995:Great Sand Sea
990:
987:
842:Main article:
839:
836:
834:
831:
719:
718:
716:
715:
710:
705:
700:
695:
690:
685:
679:
676:
675:
664:
663:
656:
649:
641:
632:
631:
629:
628:
619:
614:
609:
604:
599:
594:
589:
584:
579:
567:
566:
561:
560:
559:
554:
547:
535:
534:
533:
526:
519:
505:
500:
499:
498:
488:
483:
482:
481:
476:
466:
453:
452:
451:
450:
445:
440:
435:
421:
414:
407:
400:
399:
398:
393:
383:
376:
375:
374:
369:
364:
359:
354:
349:
336:
335:
334:
333:
328:
316:
307:
304:
303:
292:
291:
284:
277:
269:
261:
260:
255:117 tankettes
249:3,740 wounded
245:
239:
238:
234:
233:
230:
226:
225:
221:
220:
208:
195:
194:
190:
189:
174:
172:
171:
156:
153:United Kingdom
141:
125:
122:
121:
117:
116:
113:
112:
111:Allied victory
109:
105:
104:
65:
63:
59:
58:
55:
47:
46:
36:
35:
28:
27:
21:
20:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
4295:
4284:
4281:
4279:
4276:
4274:
4271:
4269:
4266:
4264:
4261:
4259:
4256:
4254:
4251:
4249:
4246:
4244:
4243:1941 in Libya
4241:
4240:
4238:
4231:
4226:
4216:
4214:
4204:
4203:
4200:
4191:
4190:
4185:
4179:
4175:
4171:
4167:
4163:
4159:
4155:
4151:
4148:(1): 86–112.
4147:
4143:
4142:
4136:
4135:
4124:
4123:
4118:
4112:
4108:
4104:
4100:
4096:
4090:
4086:
4082:
4078:
4074:
4068:
4064:
4059:
4055:
4051:
4047:
4041:
4037:
4033:
4029:
4024:
4020:
4016:
4012:
4006:
4002:
3998:
3994:
3990:
3988:1-84574-068-8
3984:
3980:
3976:
3972:
3968:
3964:
3960:
3956:
3954:1-84574-067-X
3950:
3946:
3942:
3938:
3934:
3930:
3926:
3920:
3916:
3912:
3908:
3904:
3900:
3896:
3892:
3888:
3884:
3880:
3876:
3872:
3868:
3864:
3860:
3855:
3843:
3839:
3835:
3831:
3830:
3824:
3812:
3808:
3804:
3800:
3796:
3792:
3791:
3786:
3782:
3778:
3774:
3770:
3766:
3762:
3750:
3746:
3742:
3738:
3734:
3730:
3729:
3723:
3711:
3707:
3703:
3699:
3695:
3691:
3690:
3685:
3684:Hasluck, Paul
3681:
3677:
3673:
3669:
3665:
3660:
3656:
3652:
3648:
3642:
3638:
3633:
3629:
3625:
3621:
3617:
3612:
3611:
3599:
3595:
3590:
3583:
3582:Loughnan 1963
3579:
3574:
3568:, p. 36.
3567:
3566:Playfair 2004
3562:
3555:
3551:
3550:Playfair 1959
3546:
3539:
3534:
3528:, p. 205
3527:
3522:
3520:
3512:
3507:
3500:
3495:
3488:
3483:
3476:
3471:
3465:, p. 190
3464:
3459:
3453:, p. 275
3452:
3447:
3441:, p. 189
3440:
3435:
3429:, p. 312
3428:
3423:
3416:
3411:
3405:, p. 198
3404:
3399:
3392:
3387:
3380:
3375:
3368:
3363:
3356:
3351:
3345:, p. 151
3344:
3339:
3332:
3327:
3320:
3315:
3309:, p. 195
3308:
3303:
3297:, p. 193
3296:
3291:
3284:
3279:
3273:, p. 226
3272:
3267:
3265:
3257:
3252:
3250:
3242:
3237:
3230:
3225:
3219:, p. 218
3218:
3213:
3206:
3201:
3195:, p. 180
3194:
3189:
3183:, p. 188
3182:
3177:
3171:, p. 198
3170:
3165:
3159:, p. 179
3158:
3153:
3146:
3141:
3135:, p. 313
3134:
3129:
3122:
3117:
3110:
3105:
3098:
3093:
3086:
3081:
3075:, p. 160
3074:
3069:
3062:
3057:
3051:, p. 170
3050:
3045:
3038:
3033:
3026:
3021:
3014:
3009:
3007:
2999:
2994:
2992:
2984:
2979:
2972:
2967:
2960:
2959:Playfair 1959
2955:
2948:
2947:Playfair 1959
2943:
2937:, p. 162
2936:
2931:
2924:
2919:
2912:
2907:
2900:
2895:
2893:
2885:
2884:Playfair 1959
2880:
2874:, p. 161
2873:
2868:
2862:, p. 156
2861:
2856:
2849:
2844:
2837:
2836:Playfair 1959
2832:
2830:
2828:
2826:
2818:
2813:
2806:
2801:
2799:
2797:
2789:
2784:
2778:, p. 158
2777:
2772:
2766:, p. 155
2765:
2760:
2758:
2751:, p. 146
2750:
2745:
2743:
2735:
2730:
2724:, p. 372
2723:
2718:
2712:, p. 190
2711:
2706:
2699:
2694:
2687:
2686:Playfair 1959
2682:
2680:
2678:
2676:
2668:
2663:
2656:
2651:
2644:
2639:
2632:
2627:
2621:, p. 320
2620:
2615:
2608:
2603:
2596:
2591:
2584:
2579:
2572:
2567:
2565:
2557:
2552:
2545:
2540:
2534:, p. 340
2533:
2528:
2522:, p. 335
2521:
2516:
2510:, p. 116
2509:
2504:
2497:
2492:
2485:
2484:Playfair 1959
2480:
2473:
2468:
2462:, p. 115
2461:
2456:
2450:, p. 121
2449:
2444:
2438:, p. 201
2437:
2432:
2425:
2420:
2413:
2412:Playfair 1959
2408:
2401:
2396:
2389:
2384:
2377:
2376:Playfair 1959
2372:
2365:
2360:
2353:
2348:
2342:, p. 165
2341:
2336:
2329:
2324:
2317:
2316:Playfair 1959
2312:
2310:
2308:
2306:
2299:, p. 276
2298:
2293:
2291:
2284:, p. 203
2283:
2278:
2276:
2269:, p. 199
2268:
2263:
2261:
2259:
2251:
2246:
2242:
2226:
2222:
2212:
2209:
2207:
2204:
2202:
2199:
2198:
2192:
2190:
2186:
2182:
2171:
2155:
2153:
2152:
2146:
2141:
2139:
2135:
2134:
2129:
2125:
2120:
2118:
2114:
2110:
2105:
2104:
2099:
2098:
2093:
2092:
2079:
2077:
2071:
2063:
2049:
2047:
2043:
2037:
2035:
2031:
2027:
2023:
2019:
2014:
2004:
2002:
1998:
1995:
1989:
1985:
1982:
1976:
1973:
1969:
1961:
1957:
1952:
1948:
1945:
1940:
1935:
1932:
1928:
1924:
1913:
1909:
1905:
1903:
1902:2-inch mortar
1897:
1894:
1893:demonstration
1890:
1885:
1881:
1878:
1868:
1864:
1861:
1856:
1851:
1848:
1844:
1840:
1837:H. Wrigley's
1836:
1827:
1825:
1819:
1817:
1813:
1809:
1800:
1796:
1794:
1790:
1786:
1785:hand grenades
1782:
1778:
1773:
1771:
1767:
1763:
1759:
1756:
1752:
1748:
1739:
1730:
1728:
1724:
1723:
1718:
1717:
1712:
1711:
1706:
1702:
1698:
1694:
1693:
1688:
1685:escorts. The
1684:
1680:
1679:
1674:
1673:
1668:
1667:
1662:
1659:
1657:
1651:
1649:
1645:
1641:
1637:
1633:
1629:
1625:
1621:
1617:
1608:
1607:
1600:
1586:
1584:
1579:
1575:
1571:
1567:
1563:
1559:
1555:
1554:
1549:
1545:
1544:
1538:
1536:
1532:
1529:
1524:
1523:anti-aircraft
1519:
1517:
1513:
1509:
1505:
1501:
1497:
1492:
1489:
1485:
1477:
1473:
1469:
1465:
1461:
1458:
1454:
1450:
1446:
1442:
1438:
1432:
1429:
1426:
1423:
1419:
1415:
1410:
1409:sound ranging
1405:
1403:
1399:
1395:
1391:
1387:
1383:
1379:
1375:
1371:
1367:
1363:
1358:
1356:
1352:
1348:
1344:
1340:
1336:
1332:
1328:
1322:
1320:
1316:
1313:
1309:
1305:
1301:
1298:
1290:
1286:
1282:
1278:
1274:
1270:
1265:
1261:
1259:
1255:
1251:
1247:
1243:
1239:
1235:
1231:
1227:
1223:
1219:
1215:
1211:
1208:
1204:
1194:
1192:
1188:
1184:
1178:
1176:
1171:
1167:
1162:
1160:
1156:
1152:
1148:
1144:
1140:
1136:
1131:
1127:
1123:
1119:
1115:
1111:
1107:
1098:
1094:
1091:
1087:
1083:
1079:
1075:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1059:
1055:
1051:
1047:
1043:
1039:
1035:
1031:
1027:
1026:
1021:
1006:
1004:
1000:
999:Libyan Desert
996:
986:
984:
981:
980:Major General
977:
973:
969:
965:
961:
957:
953:
948:
945:
944:Major General
941:
936:
934:
930:
926:
922:
918:
914:
910:
906:
902:
898:
895:
891:
885:
883:
879:
875:
871:
868:. Although a
867:
863:
855:
850:
845:
830:
828:
824:
820:
815:
813:
808:
803:
798:
796:
793:tanks of the
792:
788:
784:
780:
776:
772:
768:
764:
760:
756:
753:
752:Major General
749:
745:
741:
737:
733:
729:
714:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
699:
696:
694:
691:
689:
686:
684:
681:
680:
677:
672:
662:
657:
655:
650:
648:
643:
642:
639:
626:
625:
620:
618:
615:
613:
610:
608:
605:
603:
600:
598:
595:
593:
592:Maletti Group
590:
588:
585:
583:
580:
578:
577:Frontier Wire
575:
574:
573:
572:
565:
562:
558:
557:Outpost Snipe
555:
553:
552:
548:
546:
545:
541:
540:
539:
536:
532:
531:
527:
525:
524:
520:
518:
517:
513:
512:
511:
510:
506:
504:
501:
497:
494:
493:
492:
489:
487:
484:
480:
477:
475:
472:
471:
470:
467:
465:
464:
460:
459:
458:
457:
449:
446:
444:
441:
439:
436:
434:
433:
429:
428:
427:
426:
422:
420:
419:
415:
413:
412:
408:
406:
405:
401:
397:
394:
392:
389:
388:
387:
384:
382:
381:
377:
373:
370:
368:
365:
363:
360:
358:
355:
353:
350:
348:
345:
344:
343:
342:
341:
340:
332:
329:
327:
324:
323:
322:
321:
317:
315:
312:
311:
310:
305:
300:
290:
285:
283:
278:
276:
271:
270:
267:
257:708 vehicles
247:1,703 killed
246:
241:
240:
235:
231:
228:
227:
222:
219:
209:
207:
197:
196:
191:
187:
175:
169:
157:
154:
142:
139:
127:
126:
124:
123:
118:
110:
107:
106:
101:
72:
68:
64:
61:
60:
56:
53:
52:
48:
42:
37:
34:
29:
24:
19:
4230:
4187:
4145:
4139:
4120:
4084:
4062:
4027:
4000:
3970:
3940:
3910:
3882:
3858:
3846:. Retrieved
3828:
3815:. Retrieved
3797:. Canberra:
3789:
3768:
3764:
3753:. Retrieved
3727:
3714:. Retrieved
3688:
3663:
3636:
3615:
3589:
3573:
3561:
3545:
3533:
3506:
3494:
3482:
3470:
3463:Chapman 1975
3458:
3446:
3439:Chapman 1975
3434:
3427:Hasluck 1952
3422:
3410:
3398:
3386:
3374:
3362:
3350:
3338:
3326:
3314:
3302:
3290:
3278:
3236:
3224:
3212:
3200:
3188:
3176:
3164:
3152:
3147:, p. 96
3145:Pratten 2009
3140:
3128:
3116:
3104:
3092:
3080:
3068:
3056:
3044:
3032:
3020:
2978:
2966:
2954:
2942:
2930:
2918:
2906:
2879:
2867:
2855:
2843:
2812:
2807:, p. 64
2783:
2771:
2729:
2717:
2705:
2700:, p. 57
2693:
2662:
2650:
2638:
2626:
2614:
2602:
2590:
2585:, p. 75
2578:
2551:
2539:
2527:
2515:
2503:
2491:
2479:
2467:
2455:
2443:
2431:
2419:
2407:
2395:
2383:
2371:
2366:, p. 63
2359:
2352:Wavell 1946a
2347:
2335:
2330:, p. 82
2323:
2245:
2225:
2177:
2169:326 wounded.
2161:
2149:
2142:
2137:
2131:
2128:Adolf Hitler
2121:
2101:
2095:
2089:
2087:
2083:Hetherington
2073:
2068:
2038:
2022:Ralph Honner
2010:
1990:
1986:
1977:
1964:
1956:Matilda tank
1936:
1919:
1916:Bardia falls
1910:
1906:
1898:
1886:
1882:
1873:
1852:
1833:
1820:
1806:At 0750 the
1805:
1774:
1744:
1726:
1721:
1715:
1709:
1700:
1691:
1677:
1671:
1665:
1655:
1652:
1612:
1605:
1570:wire cutters
1558:Fort Capuzzo
1552:
1542:
1539:
1520:
1493:
1481:
1433:
1416:aircraft of
1406:
1402:Bofors 37 mm
1359:
1323:
1300:John Harding
1294:
1275:; Brigadier
1269:Arthur Allen
1200:
1179:
1163:
1103:
1062:
1023:
1017:
992:
937:
886:
882:Sidi Barrani
859:
853:
816:
799:
727:
725:
692:
688:Sidi Barrani
602:Babini Group
587:Fort Capuzzo
570:
569:
550:
543:
529:
522:
515:
508:
496:Sidi Haneish
486:Mersa Matruh
462:
455:
454:
431:
424:
417:
410:
403:
396:Twin Pimples
386:Tobruk siege
379:
346:
338:
337:
331:Sidi Barrani
319:
308:
120:Belligerents
18:
4184:"No. 37628"
4117:"No. 37609"
3817:12 December
3790:To Benghazi
3785:Long, Gavin
3755:12 December
3716:12 December
2252:, p. 3
2230:casualties.
2007:Final drive
1972:reconnoitre
1944:white flags
1692:Illustrious
1661:battleships
1634:bombers of
1626:bombers of
1602:Gunners of
1583:flannelette
1562:sand storms
1451:(Brigadier
1443:(Brigadier
1386:6-inch guns
1378:60-pounders
1329:and twelve
1327:18-pounders
1273:Iven Mackay
1246:War Cabinet
1226:Lee–Enfield
1090:odd numbers
1065:barbed wire
1054:Bersaglieri
1020:XXIII Corps
993:Unlike the
983:Iven Mackay
775:barbed wire
755:Iven Mackay
617:Baggush Box
538:2nd Alamein
491:1st Alamein
479:Tobruk 1942
380:Sonnenblume
352:Tobruk 1941
244:326 wounded
206:Iven Mackay
168:Free France
95: /
4237:Categories
3848:1 February
3620:War Office
3607:References
3538:Italy 1979
3355:Italy 1979
3343:Italy 1979
3013:Italy 1979
2340:Gwyer 1964
2158:Casualties
2124:Chancellor
2117:Lend-Lease
2046:Gavin Long
2001:Tenth Army
1681:and their
1535:Fiat CR.42
1384:and eight
1343:Siwa Oasis
1339:Al-Jaghbub
1319:patrolling
1304:XIII Corps
1285:Alan Vasey
1214:reservists
1191:sanitation
1078:fire steps
911:after the
878:Suez Canal
833:Background
791:Matilda II
607:Combeforce
597:Camouflage
564:El Agheila
503:Alam Halfa
474:Bir Hakeim
391:2nd Bardia
347:1st Bardia
242:130 killed
83:25°05′42″E
80:31°45′36″N
4213:Australia
4170:162354980
4162:1477-0385
4103:298612750
4054:468817471
4019:271869976
3526:Long 1952
3511:Long 1952
3403:Long 1952
3367:Long 1952
3319:Long 1952
3307:Long 1952
3295:Long 1952
3256:Long 1952
3241:Long 1952
3205:Long 1952
3193:Long 1952
3181:Long 1952
3133:Long 1952
3097:Long 1952
3061:Long 1952
3037:Long 1952
3025:Long 1952
2998:Long 1952
2983:Long 1952
2935:Long 1952
2911:Long 1952
2872:Long 1952
2860:Long 1952
2848:Long 1952
2788:Long 1952
2776:Long 1952
2764:Long 1952
2749:Long 1952
2734:Long 1952
2710:Long 1952
2667:Long 1952
2655:Long 1952
2643:Long 1952
2631:Long 1952
2472:Long 1952
2436:Long 1952
2424:Long 1952
2400:Long 1952
2388:Long 1952
2328:Long 1952
2282:Long 1952
2267:Long 1952
2238:Footnotes
2133:Wehrmacht
2109:John Dill
2052:Aftermath
1830:Follow up
1708:HMS
1690:HMS
1683:destroyer
1664:HMS
1604:HMS
1551:HMS
1297:Brigadier
1250:Palestine
1187:dysentery
1175:2-pounder
1159:Breda M37
989:Geography
823:Cyrenaica
713:Beda Fomm
509:Agreement
443:Point 175
418:Battleaxe
362:Beda Fomm
138:Australia
4083:(2009).
3999:(2009).
3895:59086236
3867:59437245
3842:Archived
3811:Archived
3807:18400892
3787:(1952).
3749:Archived
3710:Archived
3686:(1952).
3628:39083723
2195:See also
2165:130 dead
2094:and the
2081:—
2057:Analysis
1981:Corporal
1789:bayonets
1733:Break in
1710:Ladybird
1703:and the
1697:spotting
1666:Warspite
1606:Ladybird
1428:fighters
1380:, eight
1139:Breda 30
864:was the
551:Braganza
425:Crusader
411:Skorpion
372:Giarabub
224:Strength
62:Location
31:Part of
4199:Portals
3969:(ed.).
3939:(ed.).
3909:(ed.).
3881:(ed.).
3777:6863876
3745:3633363
3706:3463225
3676:3321795
3655:2346434
1994:General
1958:of the
1855:Captain
1824:portees
1816:sangers
1781:shovels
1770:ammonal
1762:sappers
1672:Valiant
1566:jerkins
1548:monitor
1531:bombers
1508:pioneer
1425:biplane
1351:mortars
1312:Colonel
1086:company
1082:platoon
1014:Italian
894:General
870:neutral
787:shovels
771:Sappers
738:of the
708:Mechili
683:Nibeiwa
544:Bertram
523:Caravan
463:Acrobat
432:Flipper
404:Brevity
357:Mechili
326:Nibeiwa
320:Compass
4168:
4160:
4101:
4091:
4069:
4052:
4042:
4036:Oxford
4017:
4007:
3985:
3951:
3921:
3893:
3865:
3838:195420
3836:
3805:
3775:
3743:
3704:
3674:
3653:
3643:
3626:
2151:Hamlet
1934:plan.
1727:Terror
1701:Terror
1678:Barham
1658:-class
1620:Benina
1589:Battle
1574:sights
1553:Terror
1543:Myriel
1496:Sallum
1476:Sallum
1404:guns.
1197:Allied
1166:M13/40
1157:, the
1074:bunker
974:. The
960:Tobruk
956:Bardia
819:Allied
765:. The
759:Bardia
698:Tobruk
693:Bardia
530:Nicety
516:Bigamy
469:Gazala
232:45,000
229:16,000
183:
165:
150:
135:
108:Result
67:Bardia
4225:Italy
4166:S2CID
3767:[
2217:Notes
1835:Major
1777:picks
1716:Aphis
1616:Derna
1578:Cairo
1170:L3/35
1135:fuses
1003:wadis
968:Sudan
905:India
862:Libya
783:picks
777:with
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367:Kufra
186:Italy
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