1942 FREYBERG Nz-Div-in-Cyreniaca - Societa italiana di storia ...

5Uf BRIGADE GROUP. (Dolacod)
In the §foregoing narrative the part played by the 5th Brigade Group
from =the 23rd November ; onwards is not touched: on. The following is a
report'on their operations in the Bardia sector: ,and the part they playedin
the battles :between Acroma: and Gazala.
BARDIA
(MAP V1)
RON
At- 1500 hours-on. 23rd December, 5th Brigade Group came under command
of 4th:Indian Division'with the role of cutting off Bardia and Halfaya
from the: West and generally'harassing the enemy. Divisional Headquarters
were :not in wireless touch from:the 23rd onwards and-were not aware-of the
capture of 5th'Brigade Headquarters on the.27th. until we withdrew from
the line on the. 2nd-December. On the 25th, Commander 5th Brigade had
reported by' Liaison Officer that -all was well.: On the 24th 'patrols- of
the 23rd and 28th Battalions had gone along the escarpment to within 1 1/2
miles of Halfaya without opposition. The village of Salum itself had notbeen
taken as it was withinrange of all' the guns of Halfaya which opened
up as soon as the Maoris entered 'the vlae., In the North, 22nd Battalion
had.-carried out a patrol'covering 36 miles' without" meeting opposition. On
the 24th, 5th Brigade came under command of 13th Corps.
It was very clear-f"ign rigadier Hargest's letter on the 25th that 5th
Brigade were itching to join the Division in the Tobruk sector. No news would
have been more welcome than.that they were on the way, but we had to be
content with the promise that they would come as soon as they couk& be
relieved. They had had few casualties at this stage and were completely
mobile-their- presence' at Sidi Rezegh and-Belhamed would have changed
the.: whole complexion of the battle. On the other hand the wedge driven into
the fortress line had to be held.
Brigadier Hargest, in his letter to me, had reported the presence of a
strong force -of.enemy tanks at- Halfaya, which he expected would attack
Capuzzo- and Musaid. This. :was part'of General Rommel's armoured force
which, according to reports, had split into:two columns in the region of the
Omars. On. column .:attacked the Field Supply Depot, the (( I Tank repair .
depots, and the Indian Division at Sidi Omar. It then moved on to Halfaya.
The. other column, with Ariete -keeping its distance in the rear, moved
towards Sidi Azeiz. There, was a great amount of enemy activity throughout
the entire area.. At midday on the 26th, thirty tanks passed 2,000 yards
from Brigade headquarters, shepherding an enormous convoy on the way to
3ardia: from' the South East. There was also a -large movement of transport
from Halfaya area towards ]3ardia. ' Unfortunately, 5th Brigade had no tanks.
The Air Force, although advised of the targets, were unable to take advantage
of 'themowing to other tasks. At 1630 hours the enemy attacked under cover
of a bombardment from Halfaya, Point 207 and the escarpment. A column of
tanks, artillery and lorried infantry came forward and divided into
three, -one going towards' Musaid, one towards Capuzzo and the third towards
: Sou,".:' The enemy was held at all points and suffered heavy casualties.
Many vehicles were destroyed and between :7 and 100 dead were buried-next
dlayAmongst the equipment captured were two, 50 millimetre anti-tank
guns in, perfect condition. The. action 'in the evening ceased as the last of
the motorised infantry and guns passed through the Musaid-Salum gap on
its way North to join up with the other part of General Rommel's forces.
Early the following morning it would appear from reports so far
teceived that Brigade Hea quarterfs was heavily shelled and over-run by a
fborce of about 35 tanks and som ~amoured crs. In i~s attack infantry
were brought up on the backr of tanks, two or three ~to~~. aGakfter a sort
, 4~m~i~h22-