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

Sth BRIGADE GROUP MOVES WEST
(MAP XII)
On the 8th December, Brigadier Wilder arrived and took over
command of 5th Brigade with a skeleton staff. The same evening orders
were received that the Brigade would be in Corps Reserve to be ready to
take part in operations West of Tobruk. The Brigade moved by the coast
road, arriving at Sidi Bu Amud on the 9th, where it came temporarily under
command 70th Division, reverting to 13th Corps on the 10th. The enemy at
this stage were withdrawing Westwards towards Gazala. In the early hours
of the morning of the 11th the Brigade advanced in column from Bu Amud
through El Adem to Acroma. 23rd Battalion then advanced along the main
Derna Road, while the remainder of the Brigade moved astride the track
running West from Acrona. Orders were to gain touch with the enemy
and reconnoitre the Gazala Box. Opposition from Italian units was
encountered. 23rd Battalion supported by most accurate fire of the Chestnut
Troop, 1st R.H.A., captured the ridge Mengar el iosci, repulsed a counterattack,
and took 497 prisoners. The- Maori Battalion took Mgherreb in a
spirited attack. They pressed on in their buses. despite heavy shell fire, to
within 100 yards of the enemy positions, debussed and fixed bayonets, and
charged over the ridge. The Italians threw down their arms and 1,123
prisoners were taken, our losses being 5 killed-and 11 wounded. These were
strong positions, which had held up the advance for some time.
On the 12th the advance West continued. Our advancing troops were
again shelled, but there was no infantry opposition. There was considerable
enemy air activity, which, however, caused little damage. At no time during
the operations did the German dive-bombers intervene with success,
although they were much more active than they had been East of Tobruk.
In one attack on ((B )) Echelon, our Bofors guns shot down 3 Stukas and
the Royal Air Force accounted for others above our lines.
It was clear that the enemy position known as the Gazala Box was
still held by a considerable force of Italians on the general line Gazala-
Carmuset er Regem-Bir Naghia. The position had not been completed but it
was already. strong. It had been- efficiently planned and was well
camouflaged. Trenches were for preference sited in slight depressions and
were generally without parapets. Camouflage was done with wire netting.
scrim, and natural vegetation which blended in well. Machine guns and
anti-tank guns, and even 75s, were dug right in and were most difficult to
see.
The position on the evening of the 12th was:-
22nd Battalion on the left flank at Bu Allusc, 23rd Battalion on the
right dominating the Gazala landing grounds and coastal area, and the Maori
Battalion in the centre on the escarpment, about two miles forward of-
Mgherreb, at Point 182. On our left flank was 4th Indian Division, with
whom we were not really in touch. They were masking Hamza, which was
held by the Germans. To the South, 7th Armoured Division was making a
wide encircling movement to come round and cut off the enemy's retreat.
The role of the Polish Brigade Twas to carry out an attack coming in on our
left flank. See Map XII.
On the morning of the 13th,.22nd Battalion captured an enemy strong
point in co-operation with (( I >) Tanks and artillery. They took 100 prisoners
and captured 4 guns. The next important objective of 28th Battalion was
a well-sited strong point-Point 181. On the 13th they attacked it by daylight,
but were held up by artillery fire. That night they patrolled the ground
and attacked again under an artillery barrage on the following day,
capturing it at the point of the bayonet. 380 prisoners wvere takren.
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