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Skylow — Tobruk street
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Siege of Tobruk
Between April and August 1941 up to 14,000 Australians, under the command of Lieutenant-General Leslie Morshead were besieged in Tobruk by a German-Italian army commanded by General Erwin Rommel.
The Allied garrison, largely Australian, consisted of 9 Division
(20, 24 and 26 Brigades), the 18 Brigade of 7 Division and
four regiments of British artillery.
The Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy service kept the garrison supplied by means of the "Tobruk ferry" which included the Australian destroyers HMA Ships Napier, Nizam, Nestor and Vendetta.
Lost on the supply run were two destroyers including
HMAS Waterhen, three sloops including HMAS Parramatta and
21 smaller vessels.
The 2/13 Battalion was the only Australian unit left in Tobruk when the siege ended on 10 December.
The Australian casualties were 3,009 killed or wounded and 941
taken prisoner.
The German propagandist Lord Haw Haw (William Joyce) derided the troops as the "Rats of Tobruk", a term proudly embraced as an ironic compliment.
UNITS WHICH TOOK PART IN THE SIEGE OF TOBRUK
APRIL - NOV 1941
Adv HQ 9 Aust Div
Rear HQ 9 Aust Div
9 Aust Div Int Sec
"D" Sec FSS
One Pl Aust HQ Gd Bn
9 Aust Div Emp Pl
2/12 Aust Fd Regt, RAA, plus Sig Sec
3 Aust A/Tk Regt (less 1 Bty)
71 L.A.D.
HQ RAE 9 Div
2/3 Fd Coy
2/4 Fd Coy
2/7 Fd Coy
2/13 Fd Coy
72 L.A.D.
No. 10 (Aust) Cam Unit
HQ Sigs 9 Aust Div
"J" Sec Sigs 7 Aust Div
2 Op Sec Sigs 1 Aust Corps
HQ 18 Aust Inf Bde Sig Sec
Platoon Aust Guard Bn
16 Aust A/Tk Coy (anti tank)
2/9 Aust Inf Bn
2/10 Aust Inf Bn
2/12 Aust Inf Bn
47 L.A.D.
HQ 20 Aust Inf Bde Sig Sec
Pl Aust Guard Bn
20 Aust A/Tk Coy
2/13 Aust Inf Bn
2/15 Aust Inf Bn
2/17 Aust Inf Bn
58 L.A.D.
HQ 24 Aust Inf Bde
Sig Sec
Platoon Aust Guard Bn
24 Aust A/Tk Coy
2/28 Aust Inf Bn
2/43 Aust Inf Bn
Under Command
2/32 Aust Inf Bn
76 L.A.D.
HQ 26 Aust Inf Bde
Sig Sec
Platoon Aust Guard Bn
26 Aust A/Tk Coy
2/23 Aust Inf Bn
2/24 Aust Inf Bn
2/48 Aust Inf Bn
78 L.A.D.
2/1 Aust Pioneer Bn
HQ AASC 9 Aust Div
9 Aust Div Pet Coy
9 Aust Div Supply Coln
7 Aust Div Supply Coln
9 Aust Div Amn Coy
MEDICAL
HQ AAMC 9 Aust Div
2/3 Fd Amb
2/5 Fd Amb
2/8 Fd Amb
2/11 Fd Amb
2/4 Fd Hygiene Sec
MISCELLANEOUS
9 Aust Div Pro Coy
9 Aust Div Salvage Coy
9 Aust Div Postal Unit
9 Aust Div Fd Cash Office
FORTRESS TROOPS
8 Aust Lt AA Bty
SIGNALS
4 Line Sec Sigs. 1 Aust. Corps
ORDNANCE
2/1 Army Fd Workshopps AAOC
No. 6 Rec Sec. 2/2 AFW AAOC
TOBRUK SUB-AREA
MEDICAL
4 Aust Gen Hosp
2/2 Aust CCS
ORDNANCE
4 AOD AAOC
The following units were formed from 7 and 9 Aust Div Supply Columns
and appeared in Orders of Battle subsequent to the one above:
No. 1 and 2 Tp Carrying Coys
Area Transport Coy
No. 1 and 2 Aust F.S. Ds
9 Aust Div Res Tpt Coys
The Order of Battle for September 1941 and October 1941 also included
No. 10 Aust Camouflage Unit (formed from troops already in Tobruk).
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