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Siege of TobrukPrint Page Print this page

15-January-2014
15-January-2014

Photographs supplied by John Huth

The plaques commemorate those who served in the Siege of Tobruk during World War Two.

The Siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 242 days between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of World War Two. The siege started on 10 April 1941, when Tobruk was attacked by an Italo–German force under Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel.   

Australians provided the mainstay of the Tobruk defence force until August, when they were withdrawn and replaced by the British 70th Division, with the attached Polish Carpathian Brigade.  British forces lifted the siege on 10 December 1941 during Operation 'Crusader', when 1st Army Tank Brigade linked up with a 'break out' force from Tobruk - the 32nd Army Tank Brigade - at Ed Duda, to the south-east of the town.

The “Rats of Tobruk” was the name given to the soldiers of the garrison who held the Libyan port of Tobruk against the Afrika Corps during the Siege. 

The garrison, commanded by Lieutenant General Leslie Morshead, consisted of the 9th Australian Division (20th, 24th, and 26th Brigades), the 18th Brigade of the 7th Australian Division, four regiments of British artillery and some Indian troops

Location

Address:Paterson Street, Kings Park, Launceston, 7250
State:TAS
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -41.440322
Long: 147.130401
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Plaque
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW2
Actual Event Start Date:10-April-1941
Actual Event End Date:10-December-1941

Dedication

Front Inscription

Plaque :

In memory of all who served in the Siege of Tobruk

April 1941 - December 1941

Plaque :

Ode to Tobruk

"You are a member of one of the most exclusive organisations in the world.  There are no associate members, honorary members, temporary  members, influential members.  Membership cannot be bought at any price.  Only you, and your continued interest can keep your exclusive  Association alive, and this we must continue to do if for no other reason than to honour the memory of our departed comrades."

Siege Armed Services
Australian Army, Australian Navy, Air Force

Servicemen & women
Australian, British, Indian, Polish, Czechoslovakian, Free French

 

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au