Victories against Italians in North Africa

The war in Africa and the Mediterranean:

AFTER General O’connor’s stunning success against the Italian Army at Sid Barrani in Egypt, and after some reorganisation, his troops were ready to attack once more.

On January 3, 1941, O’connor’s troops, supported by their remaining Matilda tanks, attacked the port of Bardia, which is situated just inside the Libya order. In just three days the Australian 6th Division, who had replaced the 4th Indian Division, brought about the surrender of 45,000 Italian troops, 462 field guns and 129 tanks.

On January 10, a convoy bound for Malta was attacked by Italian torpedo boats and approximately 40

German aircraft, made up of Ju-87s and Ju-88s, who immediately went into action against the Royal Naval ships escorting the convoy.

The German planes hit the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and seriously damaged the cruiser HMS Southampton, which was so badly damaged she had to be scuttled and sunk by her own crew.

On January 11, the relentless bombing of London continued with drastic results – 57 people were killed and 67 injured when a German bomb landed outside the Bank of England, demolishing the underground station below.

It was on January 19 that Hitler and Mussolini met to discuss the Italy’s critical situation.

On January 22, General O’connor’s 7th Armoured Brigade successfully forced the Italian garrison at Tobruk to surrender after they had blown up many important port installations and blew up and sank their own cruiser San Giorgio. The British took 30,000 prisoners and captured 200 guns and 70 tanks. Allied casualties numbered under 500. The 7th Armoured Brigade now had Cyrenaica as their next objective.

On January 23, having become a target in the increasing bombing of Malta, HMS Illustrious managed to leave Valetta Harbour without the German and Italian air force noticing, heading to Alexandria in Egypt.