“Commando” Organisation Proves Value At Bardia

Northern Advocate, 15 November 1941, Page 6

“Commando” Organisation Proves Value At Bardia

(Received noon.) RUGBY, November 14. ILLUSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TODAY OF THE 1 EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BRITISH “COMMANDO” ORGANISATION BY A SUCCESSFUL AND BLOODLESS RAID ON BARDIA. It was not known for certain whether Bardia was actually occupied by Axis troops, whether coast defences had been organised there, or whether the harbour was being used to supply the enemy’s forward troops. General headquarters wanted information on these points, and was also anxious to create a diversion which would force the enemy to withdraw from the front some of the armoured forces which threatened the defence lines east of Solium.

A Surprise Party It was the task for a single commando, divided for the purpose of the raid into four independent groups. The cliff on which Bardia stands is broken by four dry watercourses, at the mouth of which is a little sandy beach offering good landing ground for shallow draught boats. Each of these beaches was the base for separate operations. Not until the ship had actually started were the men on board told precisely what was expected of them. The raid could begin only well after dark. The ship would reach the station at 11 p.m. Then the boats had to be got away, and they must be back two hours before dawn, so that for operations on shore there was a maximum of three hours. No change could be made in the timetable, and if anyone was late he must be left behind. When the ship stopped one group climbed down into the landing boats, which formed line abreast, and made for the shore. There were four miles to go, and the sea was rough. Through water knee deep the men pushed ashore, and collected under their section leaders before disappearing into the darkness. Quick Work The first thing that the men did was to stumble into an anti-tank ditch, which unaccounffibly had been dug at the foot of the escarpment. The next thing was to climb the escarpment itself. The escarpment was steep, almost perpendicular, and covered with loose scrub. The men wore rubber soled gym shoes, with the tops blackened so as not 1o show, and made the ascent in absolute silence. The ditch and the steepness of the climb delayed things, but by 12.45 a.m. they were in Bardia. Many explosions which followed showed that part at least of the object had beeq duly achieved. Enemy tanks and armoured cars were hurriedly despatched to repel the “invaders.” With the lightening of the threat against the British defence lines, the full purpose of the commando’s raid was secured.