after a long bombardment, the italians overran observation hill and during the night of 15 august, the nrr retreated from black, knobbly and castle hills. the black watch, two companies of the 2nd kar and elements of 1/2nd punjab regiment formed a rearguard at barkasan on the berbera road, about behind tug argan and other troops moved back to nasiyeh. the retirement was followed up cautiously by the italians, who attacked the defenders at barkasan on 17 august. the black watch made several counter-attacks and repulsed the attackers but it was only a matter of time before the defences were outflanked. the evacuation at berbera went more smoothly than expected and godwin-austen was able to withdraw the rearguard at nasiyeh and once night fell, bring back the rearguard from barkasan.