World War 2, North Africa, Libya, Bardia, 6 Division, 1941

Bardia is a small harbour town on the Mediterranean coast of Libya, about 30 kilometres from the Egyptian border. It was developed as a military outpost during Italy's colonisation of Libya at the beginning of the 20th century and the Italians had fortified both the harbour and the town before World War II.
On 3 January 1941, 6 Australian Division took part in the first major Australian battle of World War II at Bardia, Libya. Infnantry penetrated the defences of the Italian stronghold and despite some heavy resistance the town fell two days later. The Australians captured Italian war materiel as well as thousands of Italian prisoners of war (POWs), many of whom were shipped to prison camps in Australia.