The Italians had established themselves at two major African outposts in the later months of 1940. It was at Bardia that the Australians were to fight the first of many battles during the North African Campaign.

Infantry of the 6th Division advance behind a Matilda tank.

The battle commenced at 4.16am on January 1941 when the infantry of the 16th and 17th Brigades began to move out of their assembly areas.