Defence of Mechili

ln early April, the LRDG heard that the nearby town of Mechili was surrounded by the enemy. Mechili was the last stop before Tobruk, which meant that not only Tobruk and Bardia but also the key towns of Jarabub and …

1941-04-05

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ln early April, the LRDG heard that the nearby town of Mechili was surrounded by the enemy. Mechili was the last stop before Tobruk, which meant that not only Tobruk and Bardia but also the key towns of Jarabub and Siwa were threatened. On 5 April, the LRDG lost communication with their command, but their last orders had been to help defend the town. For the next three days, the patrol helped to defend Mechili before it ultimately fell to their adversaries.

Mechili, Libya

The Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) was a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during the Second World War. Originally called the Long Range Patrol (LRP), the unit was founded in Egypt in June 1940 by Major Ralph Alger Bagnold, acting under the direction of General Archibald Wavell. Bagnold was assisted by Captain Patrick Clayton and Captain William Shaw. At first, the majority of the men were from New Zealand, but they were soon joined by Southern Rhodesian and British volunteers, whereupon new sub-units were formed and the name was changed to the better-known Long Range Desert Group (LRDG). The LRDG never numbered more than 350 men, all of whom were volunteers.

Wikipedia: Long Range Desert Group

Italy

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