Changes

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.

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 assault on Bardia was launched at dawn from 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.

 

On crossing the startline the Australian 2nd/1st Battalion soon suffered casualties, losing 4 killed and 10 wounded. Nevertheless, it continued to advance under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Eather while still under fire from mortar crews and artillery batteries. The lead platoons advanced accompanied by engineer parties carrying bangalore torpedoes-12 foot (4m) pipes packed with ammonal-as Italian artillery fire began to land in and around them. Immediately after the torpedoes are fired, the infantry scrambled to their feet and rushed forward while the engineers hurried to break down the anti-tank ditch. The Italian platoons defending Post 49,d 47 46 were rapidly overrun. Within half an hour Post 48 had also surrendered and another Australian company forced the surrender of the platoons tasked with the defence of Posts 45 and 44.