Thanks Woody! A great episode. My Dad was in the 9th AID but not until their later Papuan campaign as part of 2/7 th field ambulance. He was always proud to have joined (albeit at a much later time) the famous Rats of Tobruk. He was at Finchanschhaven in 44 during the latter half of the new campaign. I always hope people remember ALL of the 9th's long and heroic campaigns not just Tobruk and 2nd El Alamein but what a contribution they made to the Western Desert war!
Another excellent presentation. When my late father, a junior officer in the RE, relieved the Australians, one of the polish officers approached him and removed his belt, cap and signs of rank and threw them on the ground. The Poles knew about snipers and the targeting of officers. He was later badly wounded by a mine. His second bit of good fortune was that a surgeon had realised that those with plaster casts survived transportation home and was using it for wounds as well.
Began by starting to watch Part 2, bet then realized that you mentioned a Part 1, so I went back to watch this one first Woody. It is a smasher so far. I learned about the 9th Australian Division's defense of Tobruk when I first played Avalon Hill's "Afrika Corps." I then read about them in "The Desert Fox" by Desmond Young, a British Officer who was captured by the Germans and spoke with Rommel as the story goes. Of course there is "The Desert Rats" starring Richard Burton among others. The depiction of the 9th showing the German attacks off is pretty accurate for a film made in the 1950's.
Really the start of Australia gaining control of its own army started with the relief of the 9th division in late 1941. You can draw a straight line from there to the tug of war over the 7th division going to Burma in February 1942. The removal of the 9th division from Tobruk is the first skirmish in that diplomatic war between England and Australia.
@@anthonyeaton5153 Yes a lot of young Australian lives were lost unnecessarily in New Guinea thanks to MacArthur’s impatience. My father’s battalion was chopped to pieces by the Japanese trying to take Buna airstrip in December 1942. When we could easily have by passed them but there we are. The Australian story in World War Two is about gaining independence to not allow another country to dictate where our troops will go. Sadly we still haven’t learned that lesson for example Afghanistan!
@@anthonyeaton5153 Yes and no. Thomas Blamey was actually appointed as Commander Allied Land Forces in the SWPA where he theoretically had control of the US army until sidelined in 1944. Later in the war he was primarily responsible for the AIF not being involved in the Philippines because he insisted that its divisions remained in an Australian corps under Australian control. So while MacArthur made the overall decisions the Australian army operated as a contiguous force under its own Generals which was the primary grievance under the British in 1941.
Operation Compass indeed made British Mediterranean Command and especially Royal Tank Corps and armored units cocky and arrogant , who never considered that Italians lacking modern anti tank guns and under bad command and organisation , were not Germans who had excellent anti tanks and knew how to use them
Thanks Woody! A great episode. My Dad was in the 9th AID but not until their later Papuan campaign as part of 2/7 th field ambulance. He was always proud to have joined (albeit at a much later time) the famous Rats of Tobruk. He was at Finchanschhaven in 44 during the latter half of the new campaign. I always hope people remember ALL of the 9th's long and heroic campaigns not just Tobruk and 2nd El Alamein but what a contribution they made to the Western Desert war!
Interesting Presentation Thankyou Woody
Another excellent presentation. When my late father, a junior officer in the RE, relieved the Australians, one of the polish officers approached him and removed his belt, cap and signs of rank and threw them on the ground. The Poles knew about snipers and the targeting of officers. He was later badly wounded by a mine. His second bit of good fortune was that a surgeon had realised that those with plaster casts survived transportation home and was using it for wounds as well.
Another superb presentation Craig and Paul.
So good!
Superb Paul and Craig....great to learn more about the 9th Division
Not sure what happened. We are up again here ua-cam.com/users/live-hpW2oBjVYM?si=TFbvtRc8LyjXgSG2
Morshead led a battalion near Villers-Bretonneaux in April 1918. He was wounded in action. Another teacher-soldier.
The reconnaissance patrols in the night was a good idea by the Australians
They used the constant contact patrols to terrorise the Japanese in New Guinea over the Stanley Ranges battles
Excellent presentation and and discussion. Thank you Paul and Craig
Way to leave us hanging! 🤣 It was great up until the weird drop out. Looking forward to Part 2!
We are back online, not sure why it stopped. We are up again here ua-cam.com/users/live-hpW2oBjVYM?si=TFbvtRc8LyjXgSG2
As a huge fan of Mediterranean , Middle East Theater of the war , I enjoyed this episode a lot. But it cut abruptly short.
Not sure what happened. We are up again here ua-cam.com/users/live-hpW2oBjVYM?si=TFbvtRc8LyjXgSG2
Began by starting to watch Part 2, bet then realized that you mentioned a Part 1, so I went back to watch this one first Woody. It is a smasher so far. I learned about the 9th Australian Division's defense of Tobruk when I first played Avalon Hill's "Afrika Corps." I then read about them in "The Desert Fox" by Desmond Young, a British Officer who was captured by the Germans and spoke with Rommel as the story goes. Of course there is "The Desert Rats" starring Richard Burton among others. The depiction of the 9th showing the German attacks off is pretty accurate for a film made in the 1950's.
Really the start of Australia gaining control of its own army started with the relief of the 9th division in late 1941. You can draw a straight line from there to the tug of war over the 7th division going to Burma in February 1942. The removal of the 9th division from Tobruk is the first skirmish in that diplomatic war between England and Australia.
Not sure what happened and why it stopped, but we are up again here ua-cam.com/users/live-hpW2oBjVYM?si=TFbvtRc8LyjXgSG2
Then your army was bossed about n SE Asia by the Americans under MacArthur.
@@anthonyeaton5153 Yes a lot of young Australian lives were lost unnecessarily in New Guinea thanks to MacArthur’s impatience. My father’s battalion was chopped to pieces by the Japanese trying to take Buna airstrip in December 1942. When we could easily have by passed them but there we are. The Australian story in World War Two is about gaining independence to not allow another country to dictate where our troops will go. Sadly we still haven’t learned that lesson for example Afghanistan!
@@scotttaylor7767 MacArthur wasted thousands of American lives also. He was so arrogant that he refused to accept correct Intelligence.
@@anthonyeaton5153 Yes and no. Thomas Blamey was actually appointed as Commander Allied Land Forces in the SWPA where he theoretically had control of the US army until sidelined in 1944. Later in the war he was primarily responsible for the AIF not being involved in the Philippines because he insisted that its divisions remained in an Australian corps under Australian control.
So while MacArthur made the overall decisions the Australian army operated as a contiguous force under its own Generals which was the primary grievance under the British in 1941.
Not sure what happened there. Lost the stream. Will set up a part 2
Look forward to part2 Woody, hope nothing to serious.
Not sure what happened. We are up again here ua-cam.com/users/live-hpW2oBjVYM?si=TFbvtRc8LyjXgSG2
The 10th April defeat of the German attack could well mark the first time German Forces had been defeated in ww2 by the Commonwealth ?
Indeed
Indeed and they inflicted much heavier casualties
Feed lost 🙁 Thanks for the presentation though - I learned a lot
Not sure what happened. We are up again here ua-cam.com/users/live-hpW2oBjVYM?si=TFbvtRc8LyjXgSG2
Operation Compass indeed made British Mediterranean Command and especially Royal Tank Corps and armored units cocky and arrogant , who never considered that Italians lacking modern anti tank guns and under bad command and organisation , were not Germans who had excellent anti tanks and knew how to use them
Join us for part 2 ua-cam.com/users/live-hpW2oBjVYM?si=MWVIAsBw0aGjp-W0
Was commenting live when the broadcast cut out. Is everything ok Woody?
Not sure what happened. We are up again here ua-cam.com/users/live-hpW2oBjVYM?si=TFbvtRc8LyjXgSG2
@@WW2TV thanks mate!
did the British have any LST style of ship to use to resupply?
Ships yes, but not LSTs in 1941