Early on 3 January 1941 the 6th Australian Division, supported by 24 tanks of 7 RTR, began their attack into Bardia. Sappers blew gaps in the wire, the Australians secured a bridgehead across the ditch with crossing places for tanks; and nearly 100 mines were removed. 1/6

At 7am 7 RTR moved into the bridgehead. Five troops turned right & moved SW with 2/2nd Battalion, fighting a series of sharp minor encounters. By 8.30am 16th Aus Inf Bde had occupied practically all its objectives & had captured some 8k prisoners & a large quantity of wpns. 2/6

Phase II began at 11.30 a.m. with an attack by 17th Australian Infantry Brigade against the perimeter east of the Bardia-Capuzzo road. 2/5th Battalion & two coys of the 2/7th came under accurate artillery fire and their CO was hit. Six tanks took part but they arrived late. 3/6

On the left the attack was checked. Despite this by the end of the day the attack had reached the switch line, where confused fighting was still going on. At 6pm 7 RTR's tanks rallied at Ghereidia for the night. 4/6

6 RTR had also been in action. They had made a demonstration against the defences at 7am and then again at 11am. And in the late afternoon their Light Tanks had supported Free French forces in their attack into Bardia. 5/6

Two men from the 7th, Cpl Gavin Black DCM (awarded for his actions in Dec 40) LCPl Sidney Prince were killed during the attack. The 6th lost three men; Cpl Fred Dobson, Tpr Edward Peachem, and Cpl John Sutherland. 6/6