After the Battle of Bardia, Axis forces had reoccupied the port in April 1941 during Operation Sonnenblume. Further fighting occurred from 31 December 1941 – 2 January 1942 during which the 2nd South African Division were tasked to re-capture the port of Bardia. The Durban Light Infantry were to attack the perimeter in the north-west as part of Northforce (Brigade) attack on 16 December 1941. By 3:45pm the battalion attack had been stopped due to heavy machine-gun and artillery fire, but they were instructed to renew the attack again the following morning. The second attack was launched at 11:00 the next morning but was again halted by German 20 mm Flak guns employed in direct fire role on the South Africans, with many wounded laying on the battlefield under ongoing fire from both Axis and South African forces.