Veterans and the wider community today paused to
remember the courage and ingenuity of the famous ‘Rats
of Tobruk’ on the 75
th anniversary of the
Siege of Tobruk.
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime
Minister for the Centenary of Anzac, Dan Tehan, attended
a commemorative service at the Rats of Tobruk
Memorial in Canberra to acknowledge the courage and
endurance of the men who took such enormous risks to
defend Tobruk.
“Today is a very special commemoration, with 25
‘Rats’ of Tobruk travelled to Canberra to commemorate
together on the 75th anniversary of the Siege
of Tobruk,” Mr Tehan said.
“The eight month-long siege of Tobruk is one of the
Second World War’s best known events. Allied forces, two
thirds of whom were Australian, held out in the
scorching heat of the Libyan Desert against the German
Afrika Korps.
“The bravery of these men and the sailors who
supported them stalled the enemy’s advance on Egypt and
denied the Germans the use of Tobruk’s harbour.
“These men carried the name ‘Rats of Tobruk’ with
honour and with humour, representing those traits with
which Australian service personnel have long been
associated – dedication, determination and a larrikin
wit.”
Between April and December 1941, more than fifteen
thousand Australians from the 7th and 9th
Divisions fought as part of an Allied force to defend
Tobruk and its harbour, while Australian sailors braved
enemy aircraft, mines and submarines to carry supplies
into, and the wounded out of Tobruk.
More information is available at
www.anzaccentenary.gov.au.
