14 Sep 1935 - Egypt-Libya border

[Diarist]

The British forces at the Egyptian border are now:

    13th Infantry Brigade (+) west of Buq Buq

         2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
         2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
         2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
         13th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

         6th Battalion, Royal Tank Corps

         91st FA Regiment

    15th Infantry Brigade (+) west of Sofafi

        1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
        1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
        15th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

        2nd Battalion, Royal Tank Corps

        92nd FA Regiment

Before daybreak the remnants of the 198th and 219th CCNN Legions had been subjected to heavy naval gunfire and when the 13th Infantry Brigade assaulted their position they dissolved and retreated towards Bardia in complete disarray leaving most of their equipment behind. The 196th CCNN at Fort Capuzzo didn't fair much better. They had been barraged by the 92nd FA Regt. with intermittent bombing and strafing from the 4th RAF Wing. The 1st Y&L assaulted from the east while the 1st KOYL and 2nd Royal Tank attacked from the south. Most of the 196th Legion surrendered while a few headed towards Tobruk under constant air attack.

Further south the 1st Battalion, The Green Howards with airborne support had captured Fort El Grein and were preparing to head south to the Giarabub Oasis complex. West of Siwa the 17th Infantry had been bombarding then assaulting the 271st CCNN Legion on the Italian left flank. By lunchtime reports were coming in that the Italians were retiring to Giarabub in an orderly manner. The 17th Brigade followed them but didn't commit their infantry in any real strength.

[Diarist]

By lunchtime the 13th Infantry Brigade arrived at the outskirts of Bardia where they were greeted by a delegation offering to surrender. After days of naval bombardment, its defences destroyed and with only remnants of the completely demoralized 7th CCNN Division to defend the port, surrender was the only real option available. The surrender was accepted and the 245th (Welsh) Field Company, Royal Engineers together with a detachment of Royal Marines from the fleet were left to garrison Bardia while the gross of 13th Brigade headed to Tobruk via Gambut. On their left flank was the 15th Infantry Brigade which after mopping up at Fort Capuzzo followed the retreating Italians to Tobruk.