“Break-out by 4 Brigade and 28 (Maori) Battalion at Bir Abu Shayit on night 27–28 June 1942. ... It was 1.45 a.m. on 28 June when the brigade crossed the start line. The attack was on and the Hun, still unaware of the movement which menaced him, was sending up only a few routine flares. It was full moon, and at times the advancing men seemed to be going forward in daylight, but their advance was not detected. Approximately 2000 yards had been covered before the first contact was made. Pandemonium then broke loose.

The 19th went in from the west and the Maoris, finding few enemy in their path across the depression, charged over from the south. Simultaneously the 20th dropped down from the escarpment into a wadi on the left. The enemy, with attackers converging on him from all quarters, fired frantically with every weapon he could command, but the attack could not be halted. There were no orders and no urging; the whole brigade surged forward spontaneously, cheering, firing, bombing and bayoneting as though each man was fully aware that the fate of the New Zealand Division depended upon his actions that night. The tornado of fire in the re-entrant did nothing to check the determined rush. ... When enemy opposition had almost ceased Captain Thomson, who had boldly led his company to the east of the depression, sent up the success signal. The triumphant roar from the troops was led by the tall figure of Colonel Hartnell who, armed with rifle and bayonet, had gone through with the attack. His headquarters, keeping pace with difficulty with his long-legged stride, heard during that hectic hour but one laconic order—given to a Bren carrier commander—to go ahead and locate the forward companies. Before it could be carried out two red Very lights followed by a green signalled victory; the action was over. ...the final tally of casualties sustained by the battalion at Minqar Qaim and Bir Abu Batta showed 13 killed in action, 8 died of wounds, 8 wounded and 1 unwounded left behind and afterwards taken prisoner, and 9 missing. Forty-six were wounded during the engagement but were successfully evacuated. Among the men whose loss the battalion mourned were Lieutenants Cross and Dix, the RSM WO [Class] I Wilson, and the stalwart signals corporal, V. E. R. Horne. True, the total losses were surprisingly light but the gaps were sorely felt.” [Excerpts From: Sinclair, D. W. “19 Battalion and Armoured Regiment".]