 The brigade major , Major I. R. Campbell , ordered MacArthur @-@ Onslow , whose carriers were screening England 's advance , to seize <unk> el <unk> , the high ground overlooking the road to the township of Bardia . MacArthur @-@ Onslow 's carriers discovered an Italian hospital with 500 patients , including several Australians , and 3 @,@ 000 unwounded Italians . Leaving a small party at the hospital under Corporal M. H. Vause , who could speak some Italian , MacArthur @-@ Onslow pressed on with two carriers to the <unk> el <unk> , where they took over 1 @,@ 000 prisoners . The tanks and the remainder of A Squadron continued along the road to Bardia under intermittent artillery fire , followed by C Company of the 2 / 3rd Infantry Battalion . The column entered the town at 1600 , its tanks firing the occasional shot . 
