War operations in North Africa during the Second World War were characterized by a constant movement from east to west and tumbalin. In July 1941, Germans and Italians besieged Tobruk. In the besieging line of the Italians, the two "hills of Spiria" dominated. The "two Spiria" were two low hills at a very short distance from each other which the Italians had turned into particularly strong points of support.
Opposite were deployed two Indian units, the 18th Cavalry (King Edward Own) and the 3rd Indian Mechanized Brigade. The Italians had also created an ammunition depot at the site. The position was supported by numerous machine guns and mortars while further back was their direct support artillery.
The British command decided that an expeditionary operation should be carried out with the aim of destroying the Italian ammunition depot and as many weapons as possible. He assigned the operation to the 8th Commando , which came from the famous Layforce whose men had also fought in Crete. The raid was decided to be carried out on the night of July 17-18, 1941.
Design…
The plan called for a diversionary attack by the 18th Cavalry to pin down the Italian forces and allow the Commandos to advance as undisturbed as possible into the Italian position. The raid would be carried out by a force of 43 Commando supported by a small number of Australian Engineer men, specialized in blasting. It was led by Captain Michael Kelly of the 8th Commando.
The other two officers were Captain Dunne and Lieutenant Lewis. The officers and about half the Commandos were armed with Thomson submachine guns while the rest carried Lee-Enfield rifles. The riflemen had been ordered to fit their bayonets to their rifles. All carried grenades.
The Commandos would infiltrate the enemy location taking advantage of the distraction and after getting behind the Italians would attack the Italians from the south.
…and execution
The Commandos left the British lines at 11.00 pm on the evening of 17 July and actually approached the Italian lines unseen. After getting close they halted and awaited the counterattack of the 18th Cavalry which would begin at 0100 on 18 July. Truly at the exact moment the horsemen dashed out, and the Italians turned all their attention upon them. The Italian machine guns opened fire on the Indians en masse allowing the Commandos to come within about 25 meters of the Italian positions at Dyo Spiria. But then the Italians spotted them and opened fire.
The Commandos, however, not only did not panic, but on the contrary attacked directly and within 4 minutes they had neutralized the defending Italians! Immediately the Australian pioneers moved forward covered by the Commandos and started placing the explosives they were carrying. The entire raid was estimated to last no more than 15 minutes as there was a risk that the Italian support artillery would be informed and open fire on the Two Spires.
Soon it was all over and the British unhooked and moved towards their lines carrying all 5 of their wounded. They were not more than 100 meters from the Italian positions when the Italian artillery did open fire, but it was too late. The commandos and the pioneers had escaped. At that time, terrifying explosions were heard. The Italian ammunition and many mortars were blown up. The Commandos returned to their lines. One of the wounded, Corporal John Edward, later succumbed to his injuries. The Italians had 200 dead and a large number of wounded, as they themselves admitted.