Tom Carlin

HALFAYA SOLLUM WAR CEMETERY 8 G 9

2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment fought in North Africa, part of the 16th Infantry Brigade under General Wavell’s offensive taking a key part in the Battle of Sidi Barrani during Operation Compass.

Tom Carlin was killed during the opening days of Operation Compass at the Battle of Sidi Barrani, which was the first major British offensive of the Western Desert Campaign in World War II.

On the day Tom Carlin died, the 2nd Battalion fought side-by-side with other British forces to capture heavily fortified Italian camps around Sidi Barrani and the coast, securing thousands of prisoners but sustaining localized casualties from artillery and intense defensive fire.

The 2nd Battalion's Battle Timeline: December 1940

9 December: The unit moved secretly through the desert under Operation Compass, "leaguering" (parking defensively) roughly 10 miles southwest of Sidi Barrani. The night was bitterly cold, and troops survived on basic rations of tea and bully beef while awaiting artillery support.

10 December (05:00): A 16th Brigade conference was called. The 2nd Leicesters were ordered to advance on the right flank of the brigade's desert formation to intercept retreating Italian forces.
10 December (05:55): Heavy Italian artillery opened fire, catching the advancing battalion in the open desert. The bombardment rapidly intensified into a dense barrage.

10 December (06:00 onwards): The Leicesters pressed forward through zero visibility, sandstorms, and a hail of anti-tank tracer shells and heavy machine gun fire. It was during this intense right-flank assault against the fortified Italian coastal camps that Private Tom Carlin was killed in action.

11 December: The co-ordinated push broke the back of the Italian defence, capturing Sidi Barrani and taking over 38,000 prisoners.

Source: 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (TNA WO/169/1709)

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