Changes

On 27 January, the Australian 2nd/4th Battalion managed to survive a strong regimental-size counterattack from the Sabratha Division near Wadi Derna, when reinforcements from the Northumberland Fusiliers arrived in time to help the Australians.<ref> "At one point the 2/4th Battalion was pinned down and almost overrun by a force of about 1000 enemy infantry. It was only the timely arrival of the Northumberland Fusiliers that checked the Italian attack." The Western Desert Campaign, 1940-41, Glenn Wahlert, Big Sky Publishing, 2009</ref>

On 27 January, the Australian 2nd/4th Battalion managed to survive a strong regimental-size counterattack from the Sabratha Division near Wadi Derna, when reinforcements from the Northumberland Fusiliers arrived in time to help the Australians.<ref> "At one point the 2/4th Battalion was pinned down and almost overrun by a force of about 1000 enemy infantry. It was only the timely arrival of the Northumberland Fusiliers that checked the Italian attack." The Western Desert Campaign, 1940-41, Glenn Wahlert, Big Sky Publishing, 2009</ref>

That same day, concealed soldiers from the BCS ambushed a column of armoured vehicles of the 6th Cavalry Regiment, taking the survivors prisoners. The advance of other units further to the south of the Wadi Derna eventually threatened the Sabratha and BCS with encirclement and General Cona ordered the defenders to disengage on the night of 28 January. On 4 February, the Italian rearguards again ambush an armoured column from the 11th Hussars Cavalry Regiment, destroying three armoured cars and killing and wounding several<ref> "At dusk on 4 February, after passing through Megara, six of the 11th Hussars' armoured cars that were leading the convoy were ambushed by antitank guns. Three of the vehicles were destroyed anda a number of soldiers were killed or wounded. Several war correspondents were travelling with the Hussars and some were wounded..." An Unqualified Success, Peter Golding, Rosenberg Publishing, 2013</ref>Precise casualty figures for the fighting for Derna and Giovanni Berta have not been compiled, but at least 20 Australians and British soldiers were killed in the ground fighting, and two RAF crewmen (Sergeants Harry Cecil Thomas Holmans) and Colin Pryce Edwards)lost their lives when their bomber was shot down.

That same day, concealed soldiers from the BCS ambushed a column of armoured vehicles of the 6th Cavalry Regiment, taking the survivors prisoners. The advance of other units further to the south of the Wadi Derna eventually threatened the Sabratha and BCS with encirclement and General Cona ordered the defenders to disengage on the night of 28 January. On 4 February, the Italian rearguards again ambush an armoured column from the 11th Hussars Cavalry Regiment, destroying three armoured cars and killing and wounding several<ref> "At dusk on 4 February, after passing through Megara, six of the 11th Hussars' armoured cars that were leading the convoy were ambushed by antitank guns. Three of the vehicles were destroyed anda a number of soldiers were killed or wounded. Several war correspondents were travelling with the Hussars and some were wounded..." An Unqualified Success, Peter Golding, Rosenberg Publishing, 2013</ref>Precise casualty figures for the fighting for Derna and Giovanni Berta have not been compiled, but at least 20 Australians and British soldiers were killed in the ground fighting, and two RAF crewmen (Sergeants Harry Cecil Thomas Holmans and Colin Pryce Edwards)lost their lives when their bomber was shot down.

General Cona loset a substantial part of the 'Sabratha' and BCS but the Italian soldiers were reported to have fought very well in defence of Derna and Giovanni Berta:

General Cona loset a substantial part of the 'Sabratha' and BCS but the Italian soldiers were reported to have fought very well in defence of Derna and Giovanni Berta: