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Following the capture of Bardia, the 7th Armoured Division with an Australian brigade advanced to take Tobruk which had been enduring a siege since 9 January. The Italian defences at Tobruk comprised General della Mura's 61st ''Sirte'' Division, backed up by 45 tankettes, 20 medium tanks and 200 other guns. In overall command was General Petassi Manella, commander of the XX Corps. The attacking Allied infantry force comprised the 16th, 17th and 19th Brigades of the Australian 6th Division under Major-General Iven MacKay. The Free French Forces in the form of their Marines would also support the Australian attack. The RAF Blenheim bombers from Nos. 55 and 113 Squadron along with the Mediterranean Fleet in the form of HMS ''Ladybird'', HMS ''Terror'', HMS ''Aphis'' and HMAS ''Stuart'' and HMAS ''Vampire'', would play an important role in softening up the Tobruk defences.

Following the capture of Bardia, the 7th Armoured Division with an Australian brigade advanced to take Tobruk which had been enduring a siege since 9 January. The Italian defences at Tobruk comprised General della Mura's 61st ''Sirte'' Division, backed up by 45 tankettes, 20 medium tanks and 200 other guns. In overall command was General Petassi Manella, commander of the XX Corps. The attacking Allied infantry force comprised the 16th, 17th and 19th Brigades of the Australian 6th Division under Major-General Iven MacKay. The Free French Forces in the form of their Marines would also support the Australian attack. The RAF Blenheim bombers from Nos. 55 and 113 Squadron along with the Mediterranean Fleet in the form of HMS ''Ladybird'', HMS ''Terror'', HMS ''Aphis'' and HMAS ''Stuart'' and HMAS ''Vampire'', would play an important role in softening up the Tobruk defences.

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<ref>"Tobruk, which had been by-passed, was attacked on 21 January and surrendered next day with a further bag of 30,000 prisoners."  The Desert Air War 1939 – 1945,Richard Bickers, p.48, Pen and Sword, 1991</ref>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<ref>"Tobruk, which had been by-passed, was attacked on 21 January and surrendered next day with a further bag of 30,000 prisoners."  The Desert Air War 1939 – 1945, Richard Bickers, p.48, Pen and Sword, 1991</ref><ref>"Tobruk was attacked on 21 January and fell next day — yielding a bag of 30,000 prisoners."  The New Cambridge Modern History. Volume XII, p.761, 1960</ref>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. Another company captured 1,000 men, including a general. 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.

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. Another company captured 1,000 men, including a general. 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.