Changes

After nearly a fortnight of preparations, General O'Connor attacked on 21 January and Tobruk was captured on 22 January, yielding around 15,000 or 30,000 prisoners (depending on the source) along with 200 field and medium guns, 23 medium tanks and more than 200 other vehicles. Some fierce fighting took place and an Australian infantry company was nearly overrun in an Italian counter-attack and the French attack initially defeated.

After nearly a fortnight of preparations, General O'Connor attacked on 21 January and Tobruk was captured on 22 January, yielding around 15,000 or 30,000 prisoners (depending on the source) along with 200 field and medium guns, 23 medium tanks and more than 200 other vehicles. Some fierce fighting took place and an Australian infantry company was nearly overrun in an Italian counter-attack and the French attack initially defeated.

The assault went in under the cover of darkness on the morning of 21 January. Once it appeared that the 2nd/3rd Battalion had penetrated the forward defences, the leading companies of the 2nd/1st Battalion started their advance. The 2/2nd Battalion made good progress, capturing  10 artillery batteries. In the meantime, a rifle company ran into booby-traps that killed or wounded several in a platoon. Major Abbot's company proceeded to clear several bunkered platoons, which it took after having initially been held up by the determined defenders manning Post 55. Sergeant Hoddinot had to crawl forward and use hand grenades to overcome the bunkered platoon that had shot his platoon commander (Lieutenant MacDonald) in the stomach and killed a section commander (Corporal Foster). For his courage and leadership in the action, Hoddinot won the [[Distinguished Conduct Medal]] (D.C.M) and was later promoted to captain.

The assault went in under the cover of darkness on the morning of 21 January. Once it appeared that the 2nd/3rd Battalion had penetrated the forward defences, the leading companies of the 2nd/1st Battalion started their advance. The 2/2nd Battalion made good progress, capturing  10 artillery batteries. In the meantime, a rifle company ran into booby-traps that killed or wounded several in a platoon. Major Abbot's company proceeded to clear several bunkered platoons, which it took after some determined resistance from the determined defenders manning Post 55, that forced one of his platoons to fall back. In the close-quarter fighting for Post 55, Sergeant Hoddinot had to use hand grenades to cover the withdrawal of his men, after the platoon commander (Lieutenant MacDonald) had been shot in the stomach and a section commander (Corporal Foster) killed and wounded five other men wounded.<ref>"Foster was killed and MacDonald wounded in the stomach but he (until he collapsed) and Hoddinott continued throwing grenades, until five more men in the platoon had been wounded by Italian fire. Hoddinott withdrew the twenty survivors." Australia in the war of 1939-1945, p. 222, Australian War Memorial, 1966</ref> For his courage and leadership in the action, Hoddinot won the [[Distinguished Conduct Medal]] (D.C.M) and was later promoted to captain.

An Italian platoon also fought well in defence of Post 62, despite British tank and artillery fire. Lieutenant Clark had to pour a mixture of crude oil and kerosene through the firing slit in order to silence the bunkered defenders. Eleven Italians were killed and the remaining 35 surrendered. As Captain Campbell's company reached the end of the first phase of the advance it came under fire from dug-in light tanks. Captain Anderson and Lieutenant Russell were wounded and Lieutenant Russell killed. Despite encountering some stiff opposition, the 2nd/8th Battalion took 1,300 prisoners.

An Italian platoon also fought well in defence of Post 62, despite British tank and artillery fire. Lieutenant Clark had to pour a mixture of crude oil and kerosene through the firing slit in order to silence the bunkered defenders. Eleven Italians were killed and the remaining 35 surrendered. As Captain Campbell's company reached the end of the first phase of the advance it came under fire from dug-in light tanks. Captain Anderson and Lieutenant Russell were wounded and Lieutenant Russell killed. Despite encountering some stiff opposition, the 2nd/8th Battalion took 1,300 prisoners.