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Siege of TobrukPrint Page 
The monument commemorates all who served in the siege of Tobruk in 1941. The Shrine is based on the original memorial built by soldiers in the Tobruk Cemetery in Libya 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Australians provided the mainstay of the Tobruk defence force until August, when they were withdrawn and replaced by the British 70th Division, with the attached Polish Carpathian Brigade.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: | Wickham Terrace, Roma Street Parklands, Memorial Corner, Brisbane, 4000 |
|---|---|
| State: | QLD |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -27.461389 Long: 153.018611 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
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 20th November, 2005 |
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In memory of all who served in the Siege of Tobruk
April 1941 - December 1941
The story of the Navy
The Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Navy played a huge part in the success of the Tobruk Siege. The perilous journey was from Alexandria through enemy controlled waters.
Known as the Spud Run, ships delivered troops, supplies, munitions. 31 ships were lost to enemy action, including HMAS Waterhen and HMAS Parramatta. Battle scarred survivors were HMAS Ships Napier, Nizam, Stuart, Voyager, Vendetta, Vampire and Yarra.
178 Australians have no named graves
Lest We Forget
The Tobruk Garrision under Maj / General Sir Leslie Morshead comprised the Australian 9th Division A.I.F. with elements of the British, Indian, Polish and Allied armies.
The garrision became immortalised as the Rats of Tobruk
Plaque :
This memorial was constructed to honour Australian & Commonwealth Forces who paid the supreme sacrifice at the "Siege of Tobruk"
10th April to 7 December 1941
Donations presented
The Rats of Tobruk Association HQ. QLD
Sub-Branch members and widows
D.V.A. Saluting Their Services Program
ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee QLD
R.S.L. Sandgate Sub / Branch QLD
R.A.A.F. - Assoc Sandgate Sub-section QLD
And individual contributions
Memorial dedicated on 20th November 2005
The Rats of Tobruk Assoc
QLD. State President : Gordon Wallace 2 / 15th Inf. Bth
Rat of Tobruk
QLD. State Hon Secretary / Treasurer : Jock Hunter
RAF / RET
The Garrison
Australia
H Q 9th Division and Divisional troops Artillery
Infantry... 2 / 12th Field Regiment, 3rd Anti-tank Regiment :
18th Brigade, 2/9th, 2/10th, 2/12th Battalions 16th, 20th, 24th, 26th, Anti-tank companies
20th Brigade, 2/13th, 2/15th, 2/17th Battalions 8th Light A. A. Battery
24th Brigade 2/28th, 2/32nd, 2/43rd Battalions. Medical Units...
26th Brigade 2/23rd, 2/24th, 2/48th Battalions 4th Australian General Hospital ; 2/2nd Casualty
Engineers and Pioneers... Clearing Station, 2/3rd, 2/4th, 2/8th, 2/11th
2/1st Pioneer Battalion : 2/4th Field Park Com ; Field Ambulances,
2/3rd, 2/4th, 2/7th, 2/13th Field Companies. Miscellaneous Ordnance, A.S.C., Postal Units.
Indian
18th Indian Cavalry Regiment (Dismounted) 1204th Indian Labour Company
Australian Casualties
One-third of the Australians killed in action in the Middle East lost their lives in the Tobruk campaign.Our casualties were - Tobruk Siege (including withdrawal from Benghazi), all Middle East campaigns (below).
Killed in action or died of wounds 776 3,147
Wounded in Action 2,112 8,317
Missing 65 443
Prisoners 954 6,806
Total 3,907 18,713
