Kammala wannan jumla: A Arewacin Afirka, Rhodesians a cikin 11th Hussars, 2nd Leicesters, 1st Cheshires da sauran rundunonin sun ba da gudummawa ga Operation Compass tsakanin Disamba 1940 da Fabrairu 1941 a matsayin wani ɓangare na Western Desert Force karkashin Manjo Janar Richard O'Connor, suna yaƙi a Sidi Barrani,
Bardia, Beda Fomm da kuma sauran wurare. Wannan farmakin ya yi nasara sosai, tare da Allies da ke fama da rauni kaɗan - kusan 700 da aka kashe da 2,300 da suka ji rauni da ɓace - yayin da suka kama tashar jirgin ruwa mai mahimmanci Tobruk, sama da sojoji 100,000 na Italiya da kuma mafi yawan Cyrenaica. Jamusawa sun amsa ta hanyar aika da "Afrika Korps" a ƙarƙashin Erwin Rommel don ƙarfafa sojojin Italiya. Rommel ya jagoranci wani mummunan hari a watan Maris-Afrilu 1941 wanda ya tilasta janyewar Allied gaba daya zuwa Masar. Sojojin Jamus da Italiya sun kewaye Tobruk amma sun kasa ɗaukar babban birni da ke kewaye da Ostiraliya, wanda ya haifar da dogon Siege na Tobruk.