 The 2 / 2nd Infantry Battalion , supported by the three Matilda tanks and the guns of the 7th Medium Regiment , advanced down the Wadi Scemmas towards an Italian fort on the southern headland of Bardia . After some hours of climbing , the 2 / 2nd reached the headland and attacked the fort at 1645 . Inside the fort were two 6 inch guns , two field guns and five other guns of the fort . Fortunately , the 6 inch guns were for coastal defence and were unable to fire inland . One of the tanks made straight for the gate of the fort . The Italians opened the gate , and the tanks moved inside , taking the garrison of 300 prisoners . D Company then followed a goat track that led to lower Bardia . Thousands of prisoners were taken , most from service units . Two carriers of the 2 / 5th Infantry Battalion patrolling near the coast captured 1 @,@ 500 prisoners . Captain N. A. Vickery , a forward observer from the 2 / 1st Field Regiment , attacked an Italian battery in his Bren gun carrier and captured 1 @,@ 000 prisoners . 
