26 January 1941 Northern Front In anticipation of the forthcoming battle of Agordat (Eritrea), No.237 (Rhodesia) Squadron dispatches a Hawker Hardy (K5917) (Flying Officer Robinson; Sergeant Thomas) to patrol the sector from 09:00. Two Gloster Gladiators (Lieutenant Johan J. Coetzee; Lieutenant P. H. Smith) of No.1 (SAAF) Squadron provide the escort. Over the target, two…
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25 January 1941 Northern Front Advanced elements of Gazelle Force continue their advance towards Agordat (Eritrea) and make contact with the forward Italian defensive line in the afternoon.[1] The abrupt deterioration of the situation leads Amedeo di Savoia-Aosta to order the immediate deployment of the 11° Reggimento Granatieri di Savoia to reinforce the front, while…
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24 January 1941 Northern Front The Regia Aeronautica continues its attacks to slow the advance of British troops on the Eritrean frontier.[1] The RAF shows greater vigour today. In the morning, Flight Sergeant Leslie A. J. Patey (T1994) and Sergeant Roy G. Gilmore (T1818), of No.14 (RAF) Squadron, are detailed for a photographic reconnaissance…
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23 January 1941 Northern Front Following the movements of the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade on its flank, the XLI Brigata Coloniale abandons the position and falls back towards Agordat (Eritrea). The 4th Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment enters Keru (Eritrea) at 14:30. Fighting in the sector continues until 25 January. Heavy losses are reported on the…
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22 January 1941 Northern Front At 04:00, the 4th Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment opens its attack on the Italian position at Keru (Eritrea). The position must be taken, as the only road towards Agordat (Eritrea) passes through a particularly narrow defile here. The Sikhs seize one of the hills, but the main Italian position remains…
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21 January 1941 Northern Front The vanguard of the 5th Indian Division crosses into Eritrean territory and seizes the village of Aicota (Eritrea) at 10:30. The 10th Indian Infantry Brigade then pushes east towards Biscia (Eritrea) and makes contact with the Italian rearguard. For its part, the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade reaches the fort at…
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17 June 1940 Norther Front The RAF continues its bombing campaign against the coastal aerodromes. For example, at 04:40 five Vickers Wellesleys of No.223 (RAF) Squadron take off for Gura aerodrome (Eritrea), where four Caproni Ca.133s are reported damaged. Les équipages du Vickers Wellesley sont véritablement inventifs, comme en témoigne la démarche audacieuse du No.47…
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16 June 1940 Northern Front No.14 (RAF) Squadron uses a lull to trial a new arrangement of the Vickers Wellesley’s defensive armament. The decision follows hard fighting against Italian fighters. A second Lewis gun is fitted through a ventral panel originally intended to carry a camera in the rear fuselage. In addition, Sergeant Edwin T.…
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20 January 1941 Northern Front The border forts at Kassala (Sudan) and Tesseney (Eritrea), previously abandoned by the Italians, are taken early on 19 January, and the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade is ordered to move on Agordat (Eritrea) at 14:20 the following day.[1] At the same time, three Hawker Hardys of No.237 (Rhodesia) Squadron are…
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15 June 1940 Northern Front From Aden (Yemen), the Royal Air Force mounts a coordinated attack on Dire Dawa aerodrome (Ethiopia), involving six Bristol Blenheim Mk I of No.8 (RAF) Squadron and six of No.39 (RAF) Squadron. At 09:15, six Bristol Blenheim Mk I of No.8 (RAF) Squadron take off from Khormaksar (Aden) and claim…
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