Australian troops string out behind tanks in a practice advance over North African sands, on January 3, 1941. The supporting infantry is spread out thinly as a precaution against air raids. 

North African sands

From the caption of AWM. Footsore, unshaven and very tired, this is how four sergeants returned to their base after “walking in” from Tobruk, Cyrenaica, Libya on August 1942. They were the crew of a Wellington bomber aircraft which made a forced landing during an attack on Tobruk Harbour. As soon as their aircraft had landed they took their water carrier and at once began their journey home through enemy territory. They walked about 450 miles. Left to right: Sergeant (Sgt) Alec Barras of Perth, WA, Flight Sergeant Warwick of Adelaide, SA; Sgt Shirra of Larbert, Scotland; Sgt Jones of Codicot, Hertfordshire, England. Victor Sierra

A long journey by foot


The typical clouds shape of an incoming warm front– in brief: warm air on altitude, cold air on the ground, rain – over the Western Egypt, February 1941. The aircraft is the Gloster Gladiator Mark II, fuselage code N5786, fighter of No. 3 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force climbing from their landing ground near Sollum, Egypt, during the last stages of the British assault on Bardia during Operation Compass (December 1940-February 1941) the first major British offensive against the Italian forces of Marshal Rodolfo Graziani penetrated in Egypt. The British and Commonwealth forces advanced from inside Egypt to Central Libya. The first operational flight of No. 3 Squadron RAAF, in Egypt from September-October 1940, dated on 13 November 1940, a tactical reconnaissance. On 13 November 1940 the first air-combat with the Regia Aeronautica’s fighters CR.42s: both the parties claimed victories, but, a part some CR.42s damaged, the only loss was an Australian pilot, the Squadron Leader Peter Heath killed in action. Victor Sierra
