The end of the 11th day

Rommel and his troops took advantage of the nightly British withdrawal from the battle sites. He was able to bring his armoured forces together for a strike to recapture Sidi Rezegh. The New Zealand brigade sat in the area, unsupported for the moment. By this time, repeated attempts by British armour to relieve them were repulsed. Robert and his fellows did not know this, and he thought that the commanders must not known what was happening, either. After a lunch break, the 4th Armoured Brigade drove towards Sidi Rezegh, protecting the 1st South African Brigade's flank as they went. They encountered an enemy battlegroup with tanks and transport. The 4th Armoured Brigade was content to fire at them at long range, to no result. As darkness fell, the abandoned the field drove south to a leaguer area. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.