WAR FOR THE WELL

OPERATION CRUSADER

In November 1941, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars yeomanry experienced its first taste of battle. However, as Stephen Keoghane and Andreas Biermann describe, the regiment cut its teeth against Italy’s premier armoured division

DAVID PENTLAND (ARTIST)

November 1941: Tobruk had been under siege for approximately 230 days.

Its last-ditch garrison, initially formed by the 9th Australian Division and elements of British and Indian armoured and artillery regiments, somehow held as the Allies were pushed back hundreds of miles. Months later and the multi-national garrison continued to defend the only deep-water port in east Libya.

Want to read more?

This is a premium article and requires an active subscription.

Existing subscriber? Sign in now

No subscription?

Pick one of our introductory offers