November 1941

North Africa

Early in the morning the Prophet's Tomb is captured putting all of the 2nd Escarpment in 8th Army's hands. The 4th New Zealand Bde, supported by Matildas under Lt-Col H. C. J. Yeo's 44th Battalion of the Royal Tank Regt, attempts to link up with Maj-Gen Ronald Scobie's troops from Tobruk.

At 0100 the 4th New Zealand Bde and the Matildas break through to Ed Duda. The seige of Tobruk has been raised.

Lt-Col Siegfried Westphal at El Adem sends desperate signals for the Afrika Korps to return to the Sidi Rezegh-Tobruk area. Rommel reluctantly agrees to abandon his movements into the frontier zone. As his forces move westward, the 15th Panzer attacks the Headquarters of the 5th New Zealand Bde at Sidi Azia, taking about 700 prisoners including Brig James Hargest.

By this time the 7th Armored Bde is withdrawn from the battle to re-fit, but tanks have come from the reserve to bring Brig William Gott's numbers to 45 in the 22nd Armored Bde and 7 in the 4th Armored Bde. During the afternoon the 15th Panzer is ambushed by the 22nd Armored Bde. The 4th Armored Bde then attacks from their flank, though held off by anti-tanks guns, causes havoc amoung the Axis transports. The 7th Support Group is not with Gott at this time. The result is that there is no infantry or artillery units to block the Trigh Capuzzo after dark. The British tanks withdraw southward to spend the night in a protective camp. The 15th Panzer continues westward during the hours of darkness.