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Toowoomba Siege of Tobruk Memorial
Toowoomba Siege of Tobruk Memorial

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson

A monument commemorates those who served in the Siege of Tobruk during World War Two in North Africa.

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Australians provided the mainstay of the Tobruk defence force until August, when they were withdrawn and replaced by the British 70th Division, with the attached Polish Carpathian Brigade.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:Margaret & Burstow Streets, East Creek Park, East Toowoomba, 4350
State:QLD
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -27.562161
Long: 151.960514
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

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

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Sunday 14th April, 1996
Front Inscription

In commemoration of the Siege of Tobruk

10 April 1941 to 7 December 1941

The Allied servicemen and the 782 Australian soldiers who lost their lives during the Siege

The first defeat of the German land forces in World War 2

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