Honouring the Rats of Tobruk

Just like most Australians I had heard of the Rats of Tobruk but like many, I really didn’t know much about what they had actually achieved. Thus, when we moved here, we brought with us the book called ‘Tobruk’ by Peter Fitzsimons with the view that we would read it before going there. I am really glad we did as the book set the scene so we could understand what we were seeing. In a nutshell, Tobruk was really important during WW2 as it has a deep harbour that could be used to supply the forces defending / moving towards Egypt and the Suez Canal – both sides needed it desperately. In 1941 the Allies held Tobruk and were held under siege as the Rommel and the German Army tried to take it. Against the odds, the Allies held onto Tobruk with the Australian Diggers playing a significant and heroic role. Jack Edmondson, the first Australian to receive the Victoria Cross earned his medal at Tobruk and we were honoured to visit his grave and pay our respects.

The area around Tobruk is harsh and unforgiving – it is desert, rocky and flat with practically no vegetation. The day we visited we experienced the heat, wind and sand, giving us a little insight into what it must have been like for the soldiers. I can only imagine what a hell it must have been for both sides fighting there. The town of Tobruk itself is pretty run down and dirty these days, but we have heard stories about how beautiful it once was. Outside the town lies four war cemeteries (French, German and two for Commonwealth countries), all of which we visited. We also saw the site of the Fig Tree Hospital – an underground cavern in which soldiers were treated. Overall, it was an incredibly moving experience, something I will not forget in a hurry.

Overlooking the Harbour

The Desert Landscape - harsh and unforgiving

Trenches - the more permanent ones were originally built by Italian Forces as can be seen by the inscriptions. Bunkers were built off the side of them for the soldiers to stay in. Bunker

The Fig Tree Hospital

The German War Memorial...Exterior

Interior...

An unknown soldiers grave - French Cemetry


So many dead - Knightsbridge Commonwealth Cemetry
Jack Edmondson VC - An Australian War Hero