SkipCaptcha
797
edits
Changes
→Battle of Tobruk
Under pressure from this strong battalion force, Campbell's company had no option to withdraw, having lost 100 killed, wounded and captured. At this point help arrived in the form of two British Matilda tanks. The Australian rifle companies fought back with grenade, Bren, rifle and bayonet. They were met by a hail of fire on various occasions. Lieutenant Trevorrow and Sergeant Duncan were seriously wounded, and two of the platoon commanders had bullet holes in their clothing or equipment. At this point Captain McDonald called forward two of the British Infantry tanks to engage another stubborn platoon defending Post 42. After some fierce close-quarter combat the Italians relinquished Post 41. As Captain Abbot's company renewed the advance it came under effective fire from the Italian platoons dug in in and around Posts 34 and 35, and was forced to withdraw.
Under pressure from this strong battalion force, Campbell's company had no option to withdraw, having lost 100 killed, wounded and captured. At this point help arrived in the form of two British Matilda tanks. The Australian rifle companies fought back with grenade, Bren, rifle and bayonet. They were met by a hail of fire on various occasions. Lieutenant Trevorrow and Sergeant Duncan were seriously wounded, and two of the platoon commanders had bullet holes in their clothing or equipment. At this point Captain McDonald called forward two of the British Infantry tanks to engage another stubborn platoon defending Post 42. After some fierce close-quarter combat the Italians relinquished Post 41. As Captain Abbot's company renewed the advance it came under effective fire from the Italian platoons dug in in and around Posts 34 and 35, and was forced to withdraw.
During the night, the 19th Brigade commander attempted to negotiate a ceasefire with the commander of the Italian garrison in Tobruk. It was hoped they would succeed, but a cable from the Italian Supreme Command put paid to their efforts. Mussolini himself had himself personally signaled to General Petassi Manella, forbidding him to surrender and informing him that formations of Italian bombers were on their way as reinforcements. Later that night Italian SM.79s carried out a surprise low-level attack, but bombed some 8,000 prisoners who had been gathered inside a fenced enclosure, killing and wounding hundreds of their men. This bombing helped break the will of among those determined to fight it out in the town.
==Battle of Derna==
==Battle of Derna==