Bardia, 3 January 1941 - Australia's First Major Battle

Remembering the Australian troops who fell at Bardia 70 years ago today, including the men from the Royal Tank Regiment who supported them.

Rats and Scrap Iron

[YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE]

 

I came across it while doing some research on the Desert War. Interesting battle; they used Matilda Bridgelayers to cross the AT ditch.

 

This is it:

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:SsO5R8tGB_Q-NM:http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/2851/matildabardialt5.jpg&t=1

Axis History Forum • View topic - Bardia 1941

 

Australian Casualties on 3rd January 1941: (thanks to Geoff's SE)

001
AKISTER
R
NX4855
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
002
ANDERSON
AP
VX16666
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
003
ANGUS
JL
VX5370
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
004
AUSTIN
AE
VX7462
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
005
BARBER
HC
NX1451
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
006
BASS
LH
VX5324
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
007
BASSE
LG
VX5372
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
008
BIDDELL
CG
VX4356
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
009
BOAK
W
VX14825
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
010
BOOKER
CW
NX2204
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
011
BOWEN
JS
VX3935
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
012
BOWES
H
NX4866
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
013
BRUNDRETT
R
VX8959
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
014
BURLOCK
AR
VX5442
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
015
BURNS
GD
QX3090
6TH
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN CAVALRY REGIMENT
016
CALMAN
LD
NX89
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
017
CAMPBELL
WS
NX2307
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
018
CATLEY
PR
NX11085
AIF 2/1 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
019
CLARK
AL
NX5376
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
020
COATES
RH
NX4544
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
021
COLEMAN
AE
NX.1480
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
022
COLWELL
M
VX15817
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
023
CROSSLEY
SJ
NX1594
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
024
DAMM
FC
QX3118
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
025
DAVIS
RR
NX3550
AIF 2/1 AUST FD COY
03/01/1941
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS
026
DAWES
WJ
NX5409
AIF 16 AUST A/TK COY
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
027
DEMPSEY
FC
NX6070
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
028
DEVINE
CA
NX13536
AIF 16 ANTI TANK COY
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
029
DRYLIE
JC
NX2184
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
030
DUNCAN
AT
VX3516
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
031
DUNN
SW
NX9871
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
032
EARP
JT
NX7622
AIF 2/1 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
033
FLOYD
EC
VX1213
AIF 2/2 FIELD COY
03/01/1941
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS
034
GILMORE
F
VX14305
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
035
GLEDHILL
H
NX8463
AIF 2/1 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
036
GRANT
JD
VX5305
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
037
GRANT
EW
NX4986
AIF 16 ANTI TANK COY
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
038
GREEN
DIA
VX. 170
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
039
GUNELL
HE
VX14553
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
040
HAMILTON
K
VX5247
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
041
HARRIGAN
RJJ
NX1907
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
042
HENDY
LJ
VX5287
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
043
HENTHORN
JW
WX8099
AIF 1 TRG BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN ARMY PERSONNEL DEPOT
044
HERGENHAN
HH
NX4959
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
045
HILL
WA
NX1456
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
046
HOOD
JC
VX5429
AIF 2/2 FIELD COY
03/01/1941
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS
047
JACKSON-TAYLOR
PC
NX12164
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
048
JOHNSTON
WG
VX5844
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
049
JONES
RE
NX327
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
050
KIDDLE
RH
VX331
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
051
KUHNELL
TE
VX5149
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
052
LAING
JA
VX151
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
053
LANGDON
JA
VX4758
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
054
LATHAM
BAF
VX4425
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
055
LOVETT
CA
NX2360
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
056
MARKHAM
AE
VX4610
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
057
MARTINDALE
F
VX11702
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
058
MCCARROLL
WJ
NX5590
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
059
MCDOUGALL
NV
VX4428
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
060
MCLEOD
HL
NX1600
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
061
MCNEILL
CJ
NX7700
AIF 2/1 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
062
MEADER
RS
NX13585
AIF 2/1 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
063
MILLAR
P
VX4429
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
064
MILLER
GD
NX7869
AIF 213 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
065
MONGER
JG
VX3986
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
066
MONTGOMERY
R
NX4817
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
067
MOULSDALE
G
VX12845
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
068
NETHERCOTE
CR
VX94
AIF 2/2 FIELD REGT
03/01/1941
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY
069
NIXON
G
NX1622
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
070
O'SULLIVAN
DK
VX5093
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
071
PAGE
SR
NX5599
AIF 16 ANTI TANK COY
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
072
PAGRAM
HR
VX4363
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
073
PARKER
LG
VX5438
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
074
PAUL
FB
NX2787
AIF 2/1 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
075
PEEL
JB
VX4434
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
076
PENNINGTON
EA
VX12577
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
077
PERKINS
LA
VX17056
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
078
PLUNKETT
HE
NX15392
A IF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
079
REDDIE
F
VX3990
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
080
ROBERTS
S
NX15422
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
081
RYAN
EJ
VX5388
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
082
SARGEANT
E
NX34892
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
083
SAUL
DC
NX1626
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
084
SCOTT
RN
VX14068
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
085
SCOTT
JB
VX4547
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
086
SERLE
RL
VX6721
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
087
SEYMOUR
B
VX6436
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
088
SHEEHAN
MJ
NX14078
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
089
SHERRIN
TW
NX4560
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
090
SIMPSON
EL
NX9096
AIF 2/1 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
091
SMITH
J
VX6294
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
092
STENHOUSE
DCK
NX13577
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
093
STEVENS
JW
VX4070
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
094
STEWART
W
NX96
AIF SIGS 6 DIV
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN CORPS OF SIGNALS
095
STEWART-MALIR
JJ
VX3542
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
096
SWIFT
GH
NX28935
AIF 2/1 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
097
SYMINGTON
W
VX8452
AIF 2/5 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
098
TAMBAKIS
P
NX4511
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
099
TIMMS
BH
VX8409
AIF 2/7 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
100
WARD
OC
NX2201
AIF 2/2 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
101
WHITE
S
VX13942
AIF 1 CORPS
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN HEADQUARTERS
102
WILKIE
MVA
VX1349
AIF 2/2 FIELD COY
03/01/1941
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS
103
WILLIAMS
AJ
NX7599
AIF 2/3 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
104
WINTER
JH
VX5188
AIF 2/6 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
105
YOUNG
J
NX9916
AIF 211 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY
106
YOUNG
FLS
NX7553
AIF 2/1 BN
03/01/1941
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY

 

RTR casualties

001
BLACK
G
7884495
7TH
03/01/1941
ROYAL TANK REGIMENT, R.A.C.
002
DOBSON
F
7885527
C SQN, 6TH
03/01/1941
ROYAL TANK REGIMENT, R.A.C.
003
PEACHAM
EA
852798
6TH
03/01/1941
ROYAL TANK REGIMENT, R.A.C.
004
PRINCE
SW
7886230
7TH
03/01/1941
ROYAL TANK REGIMENT, R.A.C.
005
SUTHERLAND
JGS
827497
6TH
03/01/1941
ROYAL TANK REGIMENT, R.A.C.

 

The Australians at War Film Archive - 1

My dad was 19th brigade and although he did not get past Tobruk the 6th division had a baptism of fire. In just one month they were involved in four battles which captured the towns of Bardia, Tobruk, Derna and Benghazi.

The first Libyan campaign began in late 1940 when British and Indian forces advanced from Egypt into the Italian colony of Libya. The early advance was successful. The second phase was to capture and advance beyond the Italian fortress of Bardia. The 6th Division, Australian Imperial Force was selected to take over from the Indian division that had led the advance.

The 6th Division had been raised in late 1939. Its three infantry brigades and supporting troops had trained in Palestine before moving to the Western Desert of Egypt to finalise training and prepare for the forthcoming campaign. The main problem faced by troops of all arms and services while in Palestine and in the Libyan campaign were shortages of equipment. Every infantry battalion was short of its complement of vehicles, anti-tank rifles and other weapons. Only the 2/1st Field Regiment (artillery) was equipped with modern 25-pounder field guns, with the other field regiments going into battle with World War I-vintage artillery. Signals equipment also was in short supply.

At the end of December 1940, the 6th Division began taking up positions to advance on Bardia. The attack began on the morning of 3 January 1941 when the 16th and 17th Infantry Brigades, with artillery, tank and engineer support moved against the Italian fortress. It took two days of hard fighting, during which time the 19th Infantry Brigade also entered the battle, to capture the fortress. Almost 500 Australians were killed or wounded.

Contrary to popular belief, the Italians offered stout resistance whenever they were encountered in this campaign. They suffered from equipment shortages and leadership deficiencies, as well as air support, but still managed to fight hard on several occasions. At this stage of the war, the Australians respected the Italians as a capable enemy. (That respect would change later on.)

The 6th Division, supported by the British 7th Armoured Brigade, then prepared to advance along the coast to take the next fortress, Tobruk. One of the greatest difficulties faced by the British and Australian forces was a shortage of motor transport. Troops and supplies had to be moved forward in lorries. Breakdowns and accidents on dusty roads were common. The transport problem was tackled by making use of hundreds of captured Italian lorries and cars. Makeshift repairs kept others going.

Another problem faced by the Australians was medical care and evacuation. The treatment of casualties was well organised, however it was often a 'hellish' trip for those wounded and injured troops bumping along desert roads.

Almost three weeks after taking Bardia, the 6th Division launched its next attack against the fortress of Tobruk. The 19th Brigade led the attack. It began before dawn on 21 January 1941. By late morning, the Australians, joined by the 16th Brigade, had advanced deep inside the enemy positions. It took another day and night of fighting for the Italians to surrender. Over 25,000 prisoners were taken, together with additional stocks of vehicles and other supplies.

After both of these battles, the Australian troops searched for souvenirs - some being accused of looting. Stocks of wine and spirits were raided and enjoyed. Overall, however, discipline was good. The 6th Division remained in good condition to continue advancing towards Benghazi. By now, the division was essentially pursuing Italian forces retreating into Cyrenaica. The Australian transport and supply situation was improved by utilising Tobruk as a harbour for supply ships coming from Alexandria, Egypt.

As well as Australian ground involvement, the RAAF played a part in the air war over Libya. 3 Squadron RAAF, which had arrived from Australia in 1940, flew Gladiator biplane fighters and Lysander army cooperation aircraft during the campaign. The fighter pilots scored a number of aerial victories over the Italians, whose fighters also mostly were biplanes, although casualties also were suffered by the Australians.

After Tobruk, the 19th Brigade was sent forward to spearhead the advance to Derna, in cooperation with British tanks. Derna fell to the Australians on 28 January. Plans then were made to continue the advance to Benghazi, while the 17th Brigade pursued forces south from Giovanni Berta. On 6 February, the Australians entered Benghazi, and the advanced continued on a short distance to Beda Fomm, which British tank support, cutting off a large number of Italians.

The 6th Division was not able to advance further. Logistic problems prevented the British and Australian forces advancing further into Cyrenaica. Motor transport was now in very short supply, the supply lines were long, and troops were in need of a rest.

In April 1941, the 6th Division was withdrawn and sent to Greece. The 9th Division AIF was sent from Egypt to take its place. Short of equipment, its units deployed in the forward area but would soon face newly arrived German troops of the Afrika Korps. The British and Australian forces were then forced to retreat. (See 'Tobruk'.)

 

Map from the Australian Official History.

 

Remembering the Australian troops who fell at Bardia 70 years ago today, including the men from the Royal Tank Regiment who supported them.



7th Hussars and the composite company column of 1st Durham Light Infantry under 20798 Major Robin Quentin Featherstone Johnston were also at Bardia working alongside the Australians (Johnston was killed on the 20th January during operations at Tobruk).Unlike the Australian encounter with the Italians the Durhams initially had an easier time with Italian prisoners often driving themselves to the rear.(DLI at War Pgs 50-53 Rissik)

 

Thanks for that - great, all adds to the picture.

 

Yes thanks for that.
I am led to believe that the 6th AIF only had one Bren per Section and no Sub machine guns, This is why the men from the 6th Div and later men from the 9th div disobeyed orders and utilised Italian automatic weapons
The 6th Div were only given Tommy guns just before deployment to Greece.
They also had to rely on the Brits for a MG Btn as the 6th MG Btn had been in England till late 1940 early 1941, they did not join up with the 6th AIF Div till the Greek/Crete debacle.
With out the fighting done by 7th Armoured all through the campaign the fighting in the campaign would of been much harder for the infantry and possibly taken a different and slower yet still successful course.

 

Loyalty and Courage at Bardia - Issue 13 - Wartime: Official Magazine of the Australian War Memorial

Post 11 was no walk over

http://cas.awm.gov.au/screen_img/ART27576

 

Bardia:

 

Magnificent view at Bardia; I always liked it!

 

Magnificent view at Bardia; I always liked it!

Did you ever see the Bardia Mural when you were there?

 

The RAF's contribution;

By the beginning of January the Army was almost ready, and in the opening days of the month our ships and aircraft duly 'softened up' Bardia. On 3rd January, following night raids by Wellingtons and Bombays, the attack opened with the heaviest artillery barrage yet heard in Africa. Throughout the day our fighters were ceaselessly active, carrying out offensive patrols, protecting our naval vessels while they bombarded troops concentrations north of the Bardia–Tobruk road, and diving over Bardia every ten minutes on close reconnaissance. Meanwhile the Blenheims, having weakened the perimeter defences, resumed the pressure against the enemy air force. By nightfall two-thirds of the defended area was in our hand, and the remainder fell within the next two days.
Some of the 45,000 prisoners which the operation produced were questioned about the results of our bombing. Their answers showed that it had caused great disorganization, mainly through its moral effect. One captured general, apparently dyed deep in the khaki, asserted that 'bombing and aerial combats were only for news bulletins and did not affect the military issue,' but paid handsome tribute to the work of our Lysanders. They had directed out mechanized units so well, he considered, that the two 'appeared to be connected to each other by a string'. Another general was more impressed by our offensive activity. He explained that the garrison was so harassed by our preliminary air attacks that when the final assault came, with shelling from all side, including the sea, and continuous bombing and machine-gunning from the air, the defenders were reduced to utter helplessness. He himself escaped the attentions of one of our fighters only by hiding beneath some desert scrub. Of the two captains with him, one was killed outright and the other died of heart failure.

Royal Air Force 1939-1945 Vol 1: The Fight at Odds D Richards

 

Did you ever see the Bardia Mural when you were there?

Yes, I did. It had suffered a lot in recent years, in particular, when the door to the house was not locked anymore and some people thought they could "improve" the miral...