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Rats of TobrukPrint Page Print this page

12-July-2016
12-July-2016

Photographs supplied by Sandra Brown

The tree commemorates the Rats of Tobruk.

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:Finch Street & Memorial Lane, Bingara Memorial Park, Bingara, 2404
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -29.867321
Long: 150.569695
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

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

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Wednesday 14th August, 1991
Front Inscription

This tree was planted

14th August 1991

In remembrance of the Rats of Tobruk

1939 - 1945

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