Tobruk, a small town and military base on the Libyan coast, was the scene of some significant fighting during Operation Compass in the North Africa Campaign. Some fierce fighting took place and an infantry company was initially forced to withdraw during an Italian counter-attack.
The Australian attack[]
Following the Battle of Bardia, the British 7th Armoured Division with an Australian brigade advanced to Tobruk which was surrounded on 9 January 1941. The Italian defences at Tobruk comprised General Vincenzo 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 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 reducing the defences of the Tobruk garrison.
After a 12-day softening-up period around Tobruk, O'Connor attacked on 21 January and Tobruk was captured on 22 January, yielding around 15,000 prisoners along with 200 field and medium guns, 23 medium tanks and more than 200 other vehicles.
The assault went in under the cover of darkness on the morning of 21 January. Once it appeared that the 2nd/3rd Battalion had breached the Italian forward defences, the leading companies of the 2nd/1st Battalion started their advance. However, one of the companies soon ran into booby-traps that killed or wounded several in a platoon. Major John Neol Abbott's rifle company was given the task of clearing several platoon outposts, which it took after some confused fighting, having initially been held up by the defenders manning Post 55. Sergeant Francis Joseph Hoddinott hurled grenades to overcome the bunkered platoon. At Post 62, despite tank and artillery fire, the defenders continued to resist. Lieutenant Edmond Leonard Clark poured a mixture of crude oil and kerosene through the gap in the bunker to silence it. Eleven Italians died and the remaining 35 surrendered. As Captain Don Campbell's rifle company reached the end of the first phase of the advance it came under fire from dug-in tankettes. Captain Graham Grantham Anderson and Lieutenant Neil Russell were wounded. Despite encountering some stiff opposition, the 2nd/8th Battalion took 1,300 prisoners. At the same time, Italian gunners brought down fire on the battalion and Italian infantry counterattacked with the support of a tank squadron. Under pressure from this strong battalion force, Campbell's company was forced to withdraw, having lost 100 killed, wounded or captured. At this point help arrived in the form of two British Matilda tanks. The companies fought their way forward with grenade, Bren, rifle and bayonet. They were met by a hail of fire. Lieutenant Ronald Trevorrow and Sergeant William Duncan were seriously wounded, and two of the platoon commanders had bullet holes in their clothing or equipment. At this point Captain Duncan McDonald called forward two of the British Infantry tanks to engage a platoon defending Post 42. Some close-quarter fighting saw the enemy cleared from Post 41. As Captain Abbot's company continued its advance it came under fire from the Italian platoons dug in Posts 34 and 35, and was forced to withdraw.
During the night 19th Brigade HQ attempted to negotiate a ceasefire with the commander of the Italian XX Corps and garrison in Tobruk. It was hoped they would succeed, but a call from the Italian Supreme Command put paid to their efforts. Mussolini himself had spoken personally to General Petassi Manella, forbidding him to surrender and informing him that squadrons 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 still prepared to fight.
Next day, the capture of the remaining strong points from R1 to S11 was completed and assisted strongly by Infantry tanks of the Support Group and the 2nd Rifle Brigade and 1st King's Royal Rifle Corps which had arrived as reinforcements that morning. Meanwhile, the 7th Armoured Division which had also entered the perimeter from the Derna road that morning stood by to advance into the town if required.
Italian surrender[]
Next day, the capture of the remaining outposts from R1 to S11 was completed and assisted strongly by Infantry tanks of the Support Group and the 2nd Rifle Brigade and 1st King's Royal Rifle Corps which had arrived as reinforcements that morning. Meanwhile, the 7th Armoured Division which had also entered the perimeter from the Derna road that morning stood by to advance into the town if required. On the afternoon of the 26 January after a siege lasting 20 days and nights, General Della Mura and the some 15,000 defenders were reportedly captured.[1] The Australian losses were 49 dead and 306 wounded. The Free French Force lost 5 killed and 40 wounded.
References[]
- ↑ "Early next morning, January 22nd, the Australian commander received the surrender of Tobruk in due form and the fighting had come to an end everywhere. Four generals and an admiral, with their staffs, over 15,000 prisoners, 200 guns, and quantities of other material of war, were among the trophies of a victory which had cost us less than five hundred casualties ... ." The Army from January 1941 to March 1942, p. 18, Eric William Sheppard, Hutchinson & Company, Limited, 1943