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Rats of TobrukPrint Page Print this page

30-January-2015
30-January-2015

Photographs supplied by Russell Byers

The seat commemorates those who served at the Siege of Tobruk in World War Two. 

The Siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 241 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 and continued for 241 days up to 27 November 1941, when it was relieved by the Allied 8th Army during Operation Crusader.

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:Fairbairn & Limestone Avenues, Australian War Memorial, Hall of Memory, Campbell, 2612
State:ACT
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -35.280568
Long: 149.148978
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Seat
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW2
Actual Event Start Date:10-April-1941
Actual Event End Date:27-November-1941

Dedication

Front Inscription
In commemoration of the Rats of Tobruk
Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au