Battle of Bardia - Knowledge

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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 1738: 1799: 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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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. 1097: 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. 213: 180: 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 162: 2148:

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

201: 132: 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

147: 1464: 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 1880:

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.

4208: 41: 4220: 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 1435:

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. 1491:

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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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,

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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: 1814:

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: 1699:

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

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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

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Within the 6th Division, there were recriminations over what was seen as Berryman showing favouritism towards Robertson, a fellow regular soldier and

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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

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coastal defence guns, 7 medium guns, 216 field guns, 146 anti-tank guns, 12 medium tanks, 115 L3s, and 708 vehicles. Australian losses totalled

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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: 2070:

Australian public; congratulatory messages poured in and AIF recruitment surged. John Hetherington, a war correspondent, reported that,

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biplane fighters over the Gulf of Sallum. The Australians claimed to have shot down two CR 42s, while three Gladiators were damaged.

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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. 3841: 1057: 279: 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: 1001:

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

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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.

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United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. IV (Facs. repr. pbk. Naval & Military Press, Uckfield ed.). London:

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of Brigadier Stanley Savige's 17th Infantry Brigade, reinforced by two companies of Lieutenant Colonel T. G. Walker's

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Mackay wrote in a diary note on 6 January that the "Germans cannot possibly keep out of Africa now." In Germany, the

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later wrote, "the last to give in belonged to a garrison whose resolute fight would have done credit to any army."

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These divisions guarded an 18-mile (29 km) perimeter which had an almost continuous antitank ditch, extensive

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on the night of 2/3 January 1941. Lysanders of No. 208 Squadron RAF directed the artillery fire. Fighters from

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The artillery barrage came down at 1125, and five minutes later the advance began. The sun had now risen, and

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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",

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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: 3906: 3878: 2188: 2033: 1922: 1888: 1863:

company and a platoon of A Company worked along the Wadi Scemmas, eventually collecting 3,000 prisoners.

1842: 1838: 1807: 1792: 1750: 1456: 1303: 1288: 1206: 1117: 1113: 805:

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

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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: 3962: 3932: 3902: 2100:, which ran the headline "Hardy Wild-Eyed Aussies Called World's Finest Troops". An article in the 1930: 1892: 1859: 1448: 1440: 1307: 1248:

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.

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Infantry Battalion. The column entered the town at 1600, its tanks firing the occasional shot.

1815: 1598: 1527: 1326: 1241: 1233: 884:

on 16 September, where the advance was halted until logistical difficulties could be overcome.

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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

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stressing the political importance of such victories in the United States, where President

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In the United States, newspapers praised the 6th Division. Favourable articles appeared in

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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: 1253: 1229: 1217: 1109: 1029: 946: 900: 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. 4169: 4157: 4098: 4088: 4066: 4049: 4039: 4014: 4004: 3982: 3948: 3918: 3890: 3874: 3862: 3833: 3802: 3772: 3765:

La prima offensiva britannica in Africa settentrionale (ottobre 1940 – febbraio 1941)

3740: 3701: 3671: 3650: 3640: 3623: 1811: 1765: 1663: 1547: 1483: 1467: 1421: 1413: 1377: 1284: 1142: 1134: 932: 908: 889: 778: 731: 682: 668: 542: 521: 461: 430: 402: 395: 371: 356: 325: 318: 32: 3911:

The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Germans Come to the Help of their Ally (1941)

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had to be sent to the Middle East without aircraft or equipment and supplied by the

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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)

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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

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The assault troops rose early on 3 January 1941, ate a meal and drank a tot of

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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

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The 6th Australian Division had been formed in September 1939 as part of the

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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

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Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom

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The First British Offensive in North Africa (October 1940 – February 1941)

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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

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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

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began working at the port on 18 December. They were soon joined by two

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Stockings, Craig (2010). "The Anzac Legend and the Battle of Bardia".

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forces to continue the advance into Libya and capture almost all of

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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

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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,

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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).

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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

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ordered that all commands in the division were to go to

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Australia Infantry Brigade and the Support Group of the

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Australian Battalion Commanders in the Second World War

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smiling broadly. He was immediately thrown back and a

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arrived at Sallum with 3,000 tons of water, while the

1366:

104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery

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List of Australian military equipment of World War II

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Italian soldiers captured during the Battle of Bardia

1741:

Battle of Bardia. Position at dusk on 3 January 1941.

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bombarding Bardia before the assault, 2 January 1941

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and equipment was urgently required to re-equip the

730:

was fought between 3 and 5 January 1941, as part of

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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: 2262: 2260: 2258: 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: 3724: 3597: 3593: 3577: 3498: 3486: 3450: 3414: 3390: 3378: 3330: 3282: 3270: 3228: 3216: 3168: 3156: 3120: 3108: 3084: 3072: 3048: 2970: 2816: 2804: 2721: 2697: 2618: 2606: 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: 3402: 3366: 3318: 3306: 3294: 3255: 3240: 3204: 3192: 3180: 3132: 3096: 3060: 3036: 3024: 2997: 2982: 2934: 2910: 2871: 2859: 2847: 2787: 2775: 2763: 2748: 2733: 2709: 2666: 2654: 2642: 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: 3360: 3348: 3336: 3324: 3312: 3300: 3288: 3276: 3234: 3222: 3210: 3198: 3186: 3174: 3162: 3150: 3138: 3126: 3114: 3102: 3090: 3078: 3066: 3054: 3042: 3030: 3018: 2976: 2964: 2928: 2904: 2865: 2853: 2841: 2810: 2781: 2769: 2727: 2715: 2703: 2691: 2660: 2648: 2636: 2624: 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 703:Derna 367:Kufra 186:Italy 71:Libya 4158:ISSN 4099:OCLC 4089:ISBN 4067:ISBN 4050:OCLC 4040:ISBN 4015:OCLC 4005:ISBN 3983:ISBN 3979:HMSO 3949:ISBN 3919:ISBN 3915:HMSO 3891:OCLC 3887:HMSO 3863:OCLC 3850:2023 3834:OCLC 3819:2015 3803:OCLC 3773:OCLC 3757:2015 3741:OCLC 3718:2015 3702:OCLC 3672:OCLC 3651:OCLC 3641:ISBN 3624:OCLC 2167:and 1877:Bren 1787:and 1779:and 1722:Gnat 1719:and 1675:and 1646:and 1630:and 1618:and 1392:and 1341:and 1185:and 1183:lice 1124:and 785:and 726:The 456:1942 339:1941 309:1940 54:Date 4150:doi 2032:'s 1929:'s 1747:rum 1390:3rd 1084:or 899:'s 4239:: 4186:. 4164:. 4156:. 4146:17 4144:. 4119:. 4097:. 4048:. 4030:. 4013:. 3981:. 3973:. 3943:. 3917:. 3889:. 3840:. 3809:. 3801:. 3793:. 3747:. 3739:. 3731:. 3708:. 3700:. 3692:. 3670:. 3649:. 3622:. 3518:^ 3263:^ 3248:^ 3005:^ 2990:^ 2891:^ 2824:^ 2795:^ 2756:^ 2741:^ 2674:^ 2563:^ 2304:^ 2289:^ 2274:^ 2257:^ 2191:. 2126:, 1954:A 1713:, 1669:, 1642:, 1396:, 1240:, 1205:. 1193:. 1060:. 935:. 69:, 4201:: 4172:. 4152:: 4105:. 4075:. 4056:. 4021:. 3991:. 3957:. 3927:. 3897:. 3869:. 3821:. 3779:. 3759:. 3720:. 3678:. 3657:. 3630:. 1488:Q 1022:( 978:( 750:( 660:e 653:t 646:v 288:e 281:t 274:v

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