November 1941

North Africa

Leaving the 5th Bde, 2nd New Zealand Div, at Sidi Azeiz to watch the enemy forces holding Bardia, Maj-Gen Bernard Freyberg directs the rest of the division, the 4th and 6th Bdes, westward toward Sidi Rezegh.

There is not much activity in the morning, but the afternoon sees the conflict swing very much in favor of the Germans. About 1500 the 5th South African Bde assaults Point 178 on the 3rd Escarpment from the south, but are repulsed by units of the 90th Light Div. About the same time the 21st Panzer attacks positions at the airfield. The division's infantry regiment, the 104th, engages the British holding part of the 2nd Escarpment from the north, while a gap between the 2nd and 3rd Escarpment is invaded from the west by the 5th Panzer Regiment. The infantry assault is dispersed by artillery fire, but the 5th Panzer Regiment breaks onto the airfield.

The previous day's pattern is repeated. German anti-tank guns finish whatever is left of the 7th Armored Bde, then decimates the 22nd Armored Bde as it attempts to counterattack. The German tanks then assault the 2nd Escarpment from the rear, forcing most of its defenders, the 1st Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, to surrender.

By 1545 the Germans have the airfield. The 4th Armored Bde moves up to oppose them but, under fire from anti-tank guns, retire to reorganize except for a troop of the 3rd Royal Tanks. Under this cover, the remains of the battered 7th Support Group falls back south of the 3rd Escarpment to a position west of the 5th South African Bde. The 15th Panzer appears at 1700 and runs into the Headquarters of the 4th Armored Bde which is accompanied by a detachment of the 8th Hussars. Over 160 officers and men are captured. Some 35 tanks are also either destroyed or captured. By nightfall the 7th Armored Div has only 144 tanks fit for action; the Afrika Korps, 173.