Chronicling the first battle of World War II planned and executed by Australia's military, this groundbreaking study recounts the island nation's assault on the Italian colonial fortress town of Bardia in Libya. After 55 hours of heavy fighting, the Australians celebrated a resounding victory, having captured 40,000 Italian prisoners and large quantities of arms and equipment with minimal losses to their own fighting forces. Though regarded as one of Australia's great military feats, this intricately researched history is the first in-depth account of the Battle of Bardia.