ū b ▁Mas ‘ ū d ▁in ▁eastern ▁Lib ya . ▁▁ ▁but ▁after ▁the ▁capture ▁of ▁S idi ▁Bar ran i ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁September , ▁the ▁Italian ▁Army ▁formed ▁a ▁def ensive ▁line ▁composed ▁of ▁big ▁out posts ▁separated ▁by ▁wide ▁desert ▁areas . ▁Until ▁ 1 6 ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁the ▁division ▁moved ▁gradually ▁to ▁S idi ▁Bar ran i ▁to ▁protect ▁the ▁coast al ▁rail road . ▁ ▁On ▁the ▁night s ▁of ▁ 7 ▁December ▁and ▁ 8 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁the ▁ ▁British ▁Western ▁Des ert ▁Force ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁Major - General ▁Richard ▁O ' Con nor ▁and ▁compr ising ▁British ▁ 7 th ▁Arm oured ▁Division ▁and ▁Indian ▁ 4 th ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁rein for ced ▁by ▁British ▁ 1 6 th ▁Infantry ▁Brigade ▁advanced ▁a ▁total ▁of ▁ ▁to ▁their ▁start ▁positions ▁for ▁the ▁attack . ▁The ▁Cat anz aro ▁division ▁at ▁the ▁moment ▁was ▁guard ing ▁the ▁Bu q bu q ▁sector , ▁north ▁of ▁ 6 3 ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁Cir ene ▁at ▁ Ā b ā r ▁Ab ū ▁Saf ā f ī ▁( S of af i ), ▁south ▁of ▁ 1 ▁Lib yan ▁Division ▁Sib elle ▁at ▁Al ▁M akt ī lah ▁( M ak til a ) ▁and ▁ 2 ▁Lib yan ▁Division ▁P esc atori ▁ ▁at ▁‘ Al am ▁a ţ ▁ Ţ umm ā r ▁( T um mar ). ▁The ▁heavy ▁bomb ard ment ▁and ▁British