In Roman times the town was known as
Petras Maior. During
World War I, German
U-boats made several landings in the port of Bardia in support of the
Senussi order during the
Senussi Campaign. During
World War II, it was the site of a major
Italian fortification, invested by the
XXIII Corps under the command of General
Annibale Bergonzoli. On 21 June 1940, the town was bombarded by the
7th Cruiser Squadron of the
Mediterranean Fleet. The bombardment force consisted of the , British cruisers and , the Australian cruiser , and the destroyers HMS
Dainty,
Decoy,
Hasty, and . The bombardment caused minimal damage. The town
was taken during
Operation Compass by
Commonwealth forces consisting mainly of the
Australian 6th Division in fighting over 3–5 January 1941 at the
Battle of Bardia. The
Axis later reoccupied the town and set up a
prisoner of war camp there. On 2 January 1942, Bardia was re-taken by the
South African 2nd Infantry Division, led by 1st Battalion,
Royal Durban Light Infantry, and also the South African 2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade (Light Anti-Aircraft). The South Africans lost approximately 160 men, and the operation freed about 1,150 == References ==