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Brisbane Rats of Tobruk Memorial - Navy Plaque
Brisbane Rats of Tobruk Memorial - Navy Plaque

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson / Russell Byers

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Australians provided the mainstay of the Tobruk defence force until August, when they were withdrawn and replaced by the British 70th Division, with the attached Polish Carpathian Brigade.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.
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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 20th November, 2005
Front Inscription

In memory of all who served in the Siege of Tobruk

April 1941 - December 1941

Left Side Inscription

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

Back Inscription

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

Right Side Inscription

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   

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