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→Battle of Bardia
==Battle of Bardia==
==Battle of Bardia==
On 3 January 1941, following the reorganisation of his forces (now re-named XIII Corps), O'Connor resumed his offensive. As the British Commonwealth forces advanced, several Italian battalions and brigades were surrounded, cut off and forced to surrender. After some hard fighting, one strongpoint after another surrendered. The Australians captured Bardia on 5 January, capturing 25,000 or 40,000 Italians and 462 guns, suffering 130 killed and 326 wounded in the process. The Italian armament captured included 462 guns of various kind, 12 serviceable medium tanks, 115 L3/35 tankettes and 708 motor vehicles.
The assault on Bardia was launched at dawn on the south-western perimeter of the defences by the Australian 6th Infantry Division, supported by the 1st (Machine-Gun) Battalion, The ''Northumberland Fusiliers'' and the remaining 25 tanks of 7th RTR. The British 7th Armoured Division and Free French Force Marines were tasked with ensuring that the Bardia garrrison could not escape or receive reinforcements. By nightfall, the Australians had penetrated two miles (3 km) on a nine-mile (14 km) frontage, capturing 8,000 Italians.
The Australian 2nd/7th Battalion's D Company under Captain Halliday attacked under the cover of darkness the Italian company dug in and around Posts 14, 17 and 19 from which a heavy volume of fire had been laid down. After a fierce fight, during which it sustained some casualties, the Australians cleared the positions, capturing 103 Italians.
The Australian 2nd/7th Battalion's D Company under Captain Halliday attacked under the cover of darkness the Italian company dug in and around Posts 14, 17 and 19 from which a heavy volume of fire had been laid down. After a fierce fight, during which it sustained some casualties, the Australians cleared the positions, capturing 103 Italians.