American reacts to The Rats of Tobruk
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- Thanks for watching me, a humble American, react to The Rats of Tobruk
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A school friend's father was a Rat. He suffered terribly with mental health issues, and never recovered. He was supported by the town people because of his service with the Rats of Tobruk.
Many who came back "unscathed" were only relatively unharmed by war. I don't blame your friend's father.
A neighbour's father spent all day every day sitting on the veranda, looking into space and drinking beer. He had been a POW of the Japanese.
But my father in law and my father, who only got as far as Darwin, faced daily risks, the one through the air raids as an AA gunner, the other, an engineer, through handling unexploded ordinance and rebuilding damaged buildings and infrastructure -- which often went together, of course.
My Mum was a gunner in Darwin while Dad was fighting in New Guinea.@@silverstreettalks343
C-PTSD as identified by Bessel van der Kolk
So glad the town knew and helped, way before we understood PTSD. :(
My father was a Rat of Tobruk and I am very proud to tell everyone I am the daughter of a Rat. The Rats were responsible for the first German land defeat of WW2. Rommell wrote in his diary that the Rats were not human because they just kept coming and coming. He also said that if he wanted to take over a city or town he'd get the Aussies to take it and the New Zealanders to hold it. My father was with the 2nd/15th of the 10th Division. He was a proud and stubborn man and so were his fellow RATS which is a big part of why they were able to hold Tobruk for so long.
My father was also a Rat of Tobruk. He was 19 and a private when he went there a came back a captain after 2 years.
This video didn’t even touch on the real accomplishment of the Aussies at Tobruk.
The Germans under general Rommel had pushed the allied forces eastward towards Egypt where the British hoped to protect the size canal and access to vast oil supplies.
The Aussies were tasked to hold the port of Tobruk for 2-3 weeks to give the British time to prepare defence lines.
The Aussies held that fort. Under siege for six months until relieved by South Africans - who promptly lost it after two weeks
And so you should be proud!
May I just point out, with the greatest respect, that there was no Australian 10th division.
The 2/15 battalion was originally part of the 7th Division but by the time of Tobruk was part of the 9th Division.
The 9th was the major force at Tobruk along with the 18th Brigade of the 7th Division.
2/15th Battalion ? He would be in the 7th Division, we didn't have a 10th. Both my grandfathers were AIF men who served in the Seventh Division, known as the Silent Seventh as they never got much publicity. I have all my maternal grandfathers war photos, he served in North Africa with the 7th Division but I don't know if he was in the actual siege of Tobruk. I wish I could go back in time and ask him as I have numerous photos of Tobruk so I know he was there at some stage. This video has made me look at them again, the text on some is "bombed church tobruk", "bush artillery tobruk", "workshops and hospital Tobruk".... and I am not even half way through. I will have to investigate it further at some stage.
Nice, I joined the Army in 1995, Bravo Coy, 15 Platoon at Kapooka and the Rats of Tobruk were the supporters/sponsors of our platoon. I was awarded a Rats of Tobruk plaque at our final march out parade, I'm pretty sure his name was Les who presented it to me and we shared a beer at the boozer once all the formalities were done. I do have pictures somewhere and of course still have the plaque near and dear to my heart, because it's on the wall with all my other plaques that I received before discharging in 2019.
That story about that guy buying the house for way more than asking price, and telling them to keep it is so heartwarming.
And so Australian! 👍🇦🇺
My Dad was Rat of Tobruk too and he was in Africa for 4 years out of his 7 years being in the British Army.He was also blown up twice and spent many months in different hospitals. He had some real mean scars and we used to say when he walked he rolled like a sailor because of the damage he received.He was so very proud being a Rat and so were we.
I had a great uncle who had fought in Tobruk but was kilkd getting on a ship that was on his way to return to Australia. Italian bomber aircraft had struck the side of the ship. My grandfather was in the 7th division who fought only against the Japanese
While I am a proud Aussie with connections to the African Campaign (Great uncle died in the previous assault of Tobruk before the more famous siege). The Aussies were not only ones there, with Imperial troops from India (real mad lads), British, and Poles. The Aussies had a rule that everyone at Tobruk was an Aussie so they got access to care packages sent by the Australian public.
No but Aussies outnumbered all other forces by 8000 men.. and Rommel only really mentions them from the battles he spoke of.,.
@@nedkelly9688 Neddie, this comment was about the North African Campaign where the Australians were heavily involved ,Bardia, Tobruk, Derna, Libya.
Your outnumbered by 8,000, try between December 1940 and February 1941 133,300 Italians surrendered and from memory there were some 36,000 Allied troops in the campaign. The Australians basically the 6th Division and supporting units.
Little spoken of, but the British Artillery should also be mentioned as the much respected defenders of Tobruk. They remained at their guns, even as Luftwaffe Stuka dive bombers actually targeted them individually. There are stories of Stuka aircraft being hit with artillery fire at amazingly low altitude, & other stories of these brave men paying the ultimate sacrifice when a Stuka managed to plant a bomb within arms reach of their gun. The Aussies loved them for defending the city & they loved the Aussies for keeping Rommel away from them, out there in the desert.
When I visited Sandakan (Malaysian Borneo), a taxi driver commented it was unusual to see an Australian there before Anzac Day. I was kind of surprised they celebrated Anzac Day and he said, yes, they do and also have a special garden and monument there in the city to honour the Australians who fought so fiercely to defend them from the Japanese. I was proud to hear this and a little embarrassed that I had to learn this particular information from a taxi driver, not in the classroom.
That's interesting. I had no idea. My grandfather fought in Borneo.
The Sandakan death marches are a horrifying tale of brutality by the Japanese. Over 2,400 Allied soldiers died. Just 6 Australians survived.
I have also been Sanndakan, and my taxi driver said that if it hadn’t been for the Australian soldiers, they would all be speaking Japanese.
Not about Tobruk, but during WW1, the Australians took the French town of Villiers Bretonneaux. The town overlooked the railway junction town of Amiens. Vital position to sight guns on Amiens. Take Amiens and the Germans would cut the Allies in half and go along way to winning the war. The Australians handed the town over to the British. They then marched 20 miles to the rear for a well earned break after 4 weeks on the front. On reaching their R&R area word came through that the Germans had retaken Villiers. They turned around and marched back. The road was clogged with refugees and British soldiers fleeing the Germans. In a daring night attack aided by the Canadians and British they retook the town.
The town was so grateful that they renamed their streets after Australian places. The school children of the state of Victoria collected money and the government matched it and they rebuilt the towns school. All the construction material was sent to France. To this day in every classroom there is a sign, Do Not Forget Australia.
@@AndyViant I read about that after my trip - horrific what they went through. 😪
The best generation of Australian's this country will ever see. Lest We Forget.
My dad was a Rat of Tobruk, served in the Middle East against the Germans. Was wounded and sent back to Australia. When he was rehabilitated he was sent to New Guinea/Borneo where he served against the Japanese. Did and saw things no 21yo should have to but returned to raise a family. I am a very proud daughter.❤ of a Rat of Tobruk
The Rats of Tobruk were instrumental in defeating Rommel's army in Africa. Australian troops fought in all theaters of war. We strongly believed in defending democracy no matter where it was threatened. Australia was involved in both world wars from the very first day. Rommel admired the courage and tenacity of the Australian soldiers and had great respect for them.
We went to war in WWII to curb Germany's militarism, there wasn't a democracy to defend until the British & French Empires were in the war.
Had we intervened before the Czechoslovak Republic was annexed, then it would've been about defending democracy - but Poland's government was in power because it rounded up the opposition parties in the late 20s (and by the early 30s a junta of "colonels" were functionally in charge), it was no longer a democracy anymore than the DPRK is today.
And to be fair he made special mention of our brothers across the ditch... The Maori. The most fearless soldiers he had ever seen....
One of my great uncles was there. Approx 4 months in, a grenade went off on the other side of the tent. The 3 on that side died, and my great uncle, and his 2 mates suffered severe shell shock for the rest of their lives. The nerve damage caused, made his head constantly twitch and jerk. I still have his meat ration card, and his ration book, which will be passed on to my eldest.
RIP Uncle Eric, you're still my biggest hero. Lest We Forget 😥. PS, the 2up in Kalgoorlie, behind the Queens hotel is still the place to be on ANZAC day🥰
My Grandfather was a Rat of Tobruk. He'd march in the ANZAC marches but never spoke about his experience in the war. Ray Warfe was his name and he was a very kind man. I don't know what he went through in the war. He'd never talk about it. Keep up the great work Ryan! Craig
Australians at that time considered themselves an extension of the UK, so a threat there was something we were as bound to respond to as a Yorkshireman was bound to respond to threats to London.
Consequently, it was with a sense of pride and duty that they responded when the call came out.
I had two uncles in North Africa, and am amused by their stories.
Ron had trained as a dentist, but the question of whether he had completed the required apprenticeship (degrees were introduced as he was finishing) was not clarified when war broke out, but the Army had no qualms. He was appointed as a field dentist.
Fred was a bootmaker, like my grandfather. He had very high insteps and found Army boots extremely uncomfortable, so my grandfather, who made all kinds of devices for people with foot problems needing shoes, made him a pair of bespoke "Army boots" which looked just like the real thing, but had modified insides to allow for his feet. They saw him right through the conflict.
Fred joined up very soon after Ron, and, before any decision had been made about his allocation, Ron told his CO that Fred had been a dental assistant and asked if he could be allocated to the same unit.
It worked out well. Fred learned the trade very quickly, and had the skill to repair broken dentures, fashion prosthetic devices, and otherwise turn his therapeutic bootmaking skills to the repair of tooth damage and injuries.
The two worked together for the duration.
Proud Aussie here, thank you Ryan for your empathy & compassion for these war time videos, I grew up with the stories of these legends as did most of us! You are definitely an honorary Aussie sir, thank you again. Love your work! 🇦🇺
We are part of the Commonweath..that is why we support the Commonwealth.
i was a nurse before i retired and looked after 3 rats from tobruk , they where just so happy and cheerful and great mates ty ryan you bought back some great memories for me
I think it is so telling that the Rats of Tobruk never spoke about their time fighting, given the enormity of the situation there, and also because Australian men during those times were just a different breed....it just wasnt their way, and most of them carried the scars for the rest of their lives...Very proud of our ancestors who we owe so much to...Lest we forget....
Most who saw the worse never spoke of the war. My grandfather who proudly started WW2 as famous Lighthorse after his father was in Beersheba charge, never did either and was not until after he died i went looking for his records as no one knew a thing about his WW2 past.
Lighthorse was changed to Australia 1st Armoured Division built and trained to fight Germans but by time we got tanks and trained, the German war was ending and Tanks we did try using in Papua were too big and heavy for the jungle and pretty useless and units were disbanded again and only a few were used in Borneo and was where he fought on tanks with flamethrowers, they saw some ugly stuff to..
Ryan, you are truly an honourary Australian…
He sure is....
My Uncle Fred joined the A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Forces) in 1939. He fought the Italians in Lybia, fought with the Free French against the Vichy French in Syria and Axis forces at Tobruk, and then went to Papua New Guinea and fought the Japanese. He was discharged in 1944 on medical grounds due to the war. He had a full war.
Malaria and scrub typhus took a terrible toll in PNG.
Wow, he certainly did.
The comments I read make me so so proud to be Aussie. I remember as a kid in the 50s watching the Rats marching down Hunter St on ANZAC Day. Thanks for helping keep memories alive mate.
Morsehead deserves far more recognition than he gets. He landed on the first day at Gallipoli and later commanded a battalion on the Western Front in the First World War. Commanded our troops at Tobruk and El Alamein in North Africa. And after that, commanded the Australian forces in Papua New Guinea and Borneo. He fought from the first to the last day of both World Wars for Australia. He was nicknamed "Ming the Merciless" by his troops at Tobruk after the villain in the Flash Gordon comics.
One of our finest sons.
His defense in depth tactics at Tobruk are still taught in military colleges to this day.
Oh Ryan, you so expressed the spirit of the ANZACs. My Father-in-law was badly injured at Tobruk, an injury he carried through his life and which eventually cost him his life. You brought tears to my eyes.
My Dad was a British desert rat and fought in the battle of Al Alamein. He always said how amazing the Tobruk rats were ( and also the Gherkas). Thanks for the video. We should be so proud of that generation
My uncle was a Desert Rat too, I think although he never spoke about it, he was affected by it all his life.
@kristymac3236 My Dad never spoke about it either. He praised others but apart from what my Mum told me after he died it was never mentioned. Your Uncle was a hero
And your dad too.
My grandfather was killed and is buried at El Alamein. My mother was only 9 at the time, and she always missed her father. She never got to visit his grave although she wanted to.
My Great Uncle was a Rat of Tobruk. Our Family is really Proud of Him and i Wa s Given his Medals when he Passed Away. Extremely Proud of his Bravery
I live right near Rats of Tobruk house in Albert Park. A much honoured group.
The actual battles that took place against field Marshall Rommel at Tobruk are really fascinating and well worth a follow-up. Just a suggestion.
Im so glad to see you doing the rats of Tobruk. My great-grandfather and his brother were both stationed there. Every Anzac day i proudly march with their medals honouring the courage, and sacrifice of the men there. It was a sad day when the last of those great men left this world.
Lest we forget.
Have a search for Australians on the Kokoda Trail fighting the Japanese. It's a similar story to Tobruk.
The Diggers always called it the track not trail. Trail is an American term which unfortunately has been applied to the Kokoda Track in recent times.
my mums Uncle was in PNG. he was a medic and was KIA while evacuating a hospital. he is buried in Port Morsby with Many other ANZACS.
@@alanmacpherson3225 Originally the Kokoda Road before the war, renamed Track when the Australian Army Survey Corps surveyed it and later intertwined with Track and Trail during the war, not in later times.
@@johnnichol9412 Thank you for the information.
Yep, the first defeat, and then retreat for an army that had taken all before it. I thought of the same parallel, good comment.
Ryan, I served in the Australian army as an Infantry officer (major) for 27 years. I am proud of our military heritage. We have always punched well above our weight as a nation,ask any American who has served along side us. I appreciate the respect you have shown us and especially the Rats.
You my friend deserve to be an honorary Aussie.
had a great-uncle who was at tobruk. after being evacuated , he was permitted to return home for two weeks, and then sent into burma. he struggled with mental health issues for the rest of his life before dying in a returned services home in charters towers in the 80's. my father reckoned that he was the finest horseman that he ever saw.
Now Ryan knows more than the majority of Australians of a similar age about the Rats of Tobruk.
I'd dispute that. Like gallipoli, it is quite well taught. Maybe I had different teachers? By statistics, they should have just rolled into town, with their numbers n weapons. But no, we are holding this position. Not a small point of pride. It's pretty well known.
@@arjovenzia Well I did say the majority, so yeah maybe different teachers.
Wait till he learns of 1941 onwards
My great uncle was a Rat and his brother was on Kokoda, thank God they both survived. They did themselves and our family proud
It’s pronounced tebrook. My husbands uncle was there. It was his proudest time but one that gave him nightmares forever.
Yep. Not Toe Brook.
Who cares, he's American that's his perogative! What about the video?
Geez- why so pedantic? - he corrected his pronunciation early in this video upon hearing the film he's watching.🙄
Kudos to Ryan for showing an interest in seeking out Australia's war history.
Ryan , love watching how you enjoy these stories. You show a true interest in Australia.
One of the veteran‘s associations specific to the Rats were patrons of a small primary school I taught at about a decade ago. The members used to visit, Rats but also Vietnam vets and tell the children some history of the wars around ANZAC and Remembrance Days. They were much beloved. One thing not covered here was that the Rats were mainly “bushies” - country folk and farmers. This made them extremely resourceful and creative - like MacGyvers. On those trips of a night into “no man’s land” they were regularly sneaking behind enemy lines and stealing the Italian’s and German’s own equipment from them to bolster their own supplies and to rig up booby traps. They infiltrated and embarrassed the Italians so badly - even stealing their own alcohol stores from them - and capturing so many POWs that the Germans withdrew the Italian troops entirely from the arena of combat. These were the first defeats the great General Rommel had ever encountered in his career. These were extremely vital supply lines and the conquest of Africa failed entirely as a result of the defense of Tobruk. Ironically, the reasons ANZACs were there in the first place is because “colonials” were more expendable than “true Britains” and Tobruk was thought indefensible. They were there to delay Rommel, not defeat him. My Grandfather found himself on the frontlines with the African American US soldiers in the Pacific a lot under this same philosophy or cannon fodder. The men fighting were aware and their loyalty to each other was very powerful as a result.
Interesting thank you
Australia was part of the British empire Ryan. The empire was the world's biggest economy and dominant naval power until WW1 and still top naval power at the start of WW2. In those days most Australians were patriotic for the empire and our overseas forces in the Med were all-volunteer, so there was no one there that didn't choose to be.
The vid didn't really make clear how critical Suez was to the British empire. It connected the UK to India, which was the next-biggest economy in the empire after the UK and a major military and financial pillar. The fastest route to the UK for Australian and NZ food and resources and Malay rubber went through Suez. In both world wars, Egypt was the centre of gravity for British and empire forces second only to the UK itself. The second biggest British fleet was usually stationed in Alexandria and Suez let its units move quickly between the Med and the Indian Ocean.
It was only logical that Indian, Australian and NZ forces would be deployed to Egypt. Similarly, it was logical for Canadian forces to be deployed to the UK.
Yes, in those days most Australians were 'loyal to the British empire'. Although Americans certainly weren't. Nor would I have expected them to be.
@@mindi2050 - I didn't claim they would be. Ryan is interested in Australian history, and the empire is part of that.
@@FlyxPat Yes, assisting the former British empire was very much part of Australia's war history.
@@mindi2050 We didn't assist it, we were part of it. And it was across all aspects of our history, not just war.
@@FlyxPat Yes, Australia was part of the former British empire.
My uncle Leo was an 18 year old immigrant to Australia from Greece. He was a Rat - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Division_(Australia)
Thank you for this video mate. There is so much more to this story for Australians in northern Africa during the Second World War. These blokes went on to defend El Alamein. The commander of the German Afrika Korps, Erwin Rommel famously said:
"If I had to take hell, I would use the Australians to take it and the New Zealanders to hold it".
It chokes me up every time I read it.
Yes, the generations of men and women were certainly built differently back then. It's why ANZAC day is so special to us to honour what they did and what they gave up for us all.
If you want to learn more about another incredible bit of war history involving Australia, look up the Battle of Hamel (4 July, 1918). The battle plan was designed and run by Australian General Sir John Monash. His plan was a large divergence from the traditional trench warfare that had been used till that point. He put together a battle plan that involved careful coordination of timing that included, aircraft, artillery, tanks (as primitive as they were back then) and of course infantry. His plan was so well thought out that he estimated the battle would take 90 minutes. It took 93. There are some incredible individual stories within that battle such as about Henry Dalzeil but this post would be so much longer.
Did you know Australians shot down the Red Barron in WW1? It was a ground-based machine gunner named Cedric Popkin. Interesting stories about the Red Barron's boots and what happened to them :) A soldier from my city (Brisbane) had them at one point. One of them is now on display in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
There are so many stories. Thank you for sharing these stories mate, it is appreciated by us proud Australians.
My dad was a rat of Tobruk. He was a gunner. He also had polio as a child. My grandfather had to use his influence to get him enlisted due to his withered leg. He was hit by shrapnel and sent home with a scar from his chin to his torso. I was only 9 when he died and it was determined he died due to his war wounds at age 56. He apparently lost his virginity in a Cairo brothel. What an adventure.
To sum up the ANZACs who served in North Africa, Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel stated "If I had to take hell, I would use the Australians to take it, and the New Zealanders to hold it". He had great respect for us, and saw us as giants of men.
" Did Rommel say words to the effect that he could take Hell with Australians, and hold it with New Zealanders?
First answer on Googling
No
Not only that, but this alleged quote of him is totally unknown over here in Germany.
The only semi-famous and quotable Rommel statement about other troops that I found goes like this:
“Der deutsche Soldat hat die Welt erstaunt; der italienische Bersaglieri hat den deutschen Soldaten erstaunt.”
This transates to “The German soldier astonished the world; the Italian Bersaglieri astonished the German soldier.”
Bersaglieri - Wikipedia
Second answer
Not an ANZAC, or a German, or even a professional historian, but the quote is invented. Rommel did however point out that at El Alamein, a supposedly “Commonwealth Division” was “in fact” an “Australian Division,” that their training and morale was high, and that made El Alamein untakable at the moment.
It was a racist excuse. "Commonwealth” implied Africans, Indians, Pakistanis, West Indians, etc. Australian meant “white.”
The invented quote is conflation of the supposed, but unconfirmed quote by Hitler, “Give me Ghurkas (Nepalese British troops) and I will conquer the world.
If you think the Australian diggers travelled a long way to fight a war then consider that Australian and New Zealand airmen fought in the Battle of Britain, Australian and New Zealand soldiers, ships and sailors fought over most of the Mediterranean Sea during WW2, and the New Zealand soldiers fought in the defence of Crete and the invasion of Italy. There were also Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought early in WW2, long before America became involved, in Greece and the Balkans trying to prevent a German Invasion. Australian soldiers were not much involved in the fighting in Europe during and after the D-day landings as they were needed back closer to home for the Pacific campaign. One of Australia's most famous army divisions was fighting Germans and Italians in the dry sandy deserts of North Africa one month and then pulled out of combat there to be fighting the Japanese invasion in the hot humid jungles and mountains of New Guinea the next month. There probably wasn't a more abrupt and excessive change from one battle theatre and climate to another ever experienced by any other large fighting force in modern history.
One of my great uncles from NZ is buried on Crete died aged 21.
Lest we forget ANZAC 's
My uncle was a Rat of Tobruk and at my high school the sports houses were named after important WWII battles - Tobruk, Burma, Keren, El Alamein. I was proud to be in Tobruk but there was honour in being in any of the houses. Lest We Forget.
Wonderful to see so many well informed comments. I was born in 1943 so talk of these things surrounded my growing up. My dad was in the RAAF as was my uncle, but in the Pacific arena,not North Africa, though the RAAF was there too,
wonderful that you honour our veterans ! Thanks Ryan !
Even the formidable German officer Rommel recognized the strength and tenacity of the Australian and New Zealand troops, saying, 'If I had to take hell, I would use the Australians to take it and the New Zealanders to hold it.' It's powerful to see that even the enemy had such deep respect for the bravery and skill of the Aussies and the Kiwis. Their legacy lives on as a testament to their courage.
" Did Rommel say words to the effect that he could take Hell with Australians, and hold it with New Zealanders?
First answer on Googling
No
Not only that, but this alleged quote of him is totally unknown over here in Germany.
The only semi-famous and quotable Rommel statement about other troops that I found goes like this:
“Der deutsche Soldat hat die Welt erstaunt; der italienische Bersaglieri hat den deutschen Soldaten erstaunt.”
This transates to “The German soldier astonished the world; the Italian Bersaglieri astonished the German soldier.”
Bersaglieri - Wikipedia
Second answer
Not an ANZAC, or a German, or even a professional historian, but the quote is invented. Rommel did however point out that at El Alamein, a supposedly “Commonwealth Division” was “in fact” an “Australian Division,” that their training and morale was high, and that made El Alamein untakable at the moment.
It was a racist excuse. "Commonwealth” implied Africans, Indians, Pakistanis, West Indians, etc. Australian meant “white.”
The invented quote is conflation of the supposed, but unconfirmed quote by Hitler, “Give me Ghurkas (Nepalese British troops) and I will conquer the world.
yes Ryan - they were built differently - The Kiwis were also part of the same brew.
You need to fill the story in Ryan with a lot of detail such as how the Aussie soldiers travelled across the desert at night, got inside enemy encampments, laid bombs and made other mischief before wriggling out again and going back to base. The enemy thought they were safe from the desert side, but no, they were not.
Talking about mischief: I heard a story about the Aussies at an air base in Vietnam. They were fed up with being told of American superiority in everything especially security. One night the Aussies stencilled the kangaroo symbol on the rondel on the American aircraft. A touch embarrassing for the USAF.
I visited the Rats of Tabuk memorial Hall in Albert Park Melbourne to sign Tommy Pritchard's condolence book. Not only was Tommy the last Rat, but Melbourne is the last memorial hall in the country.
I have done a lot of reading about the rats of Tobruk. It is amazing what they had to withstand. The harbor was blockaded. They had planes bombing them. They were out numbered by a lot. They were up against heavy weaponry. The Tobruk siege was has some amazing stories.
Another interesting battle to read about is the last light horse charge. Against superior numbers and cannons/ artillery they charged the lines and because they were so fast the artillery could not adjust their guns fast enough to compensate for the distance changing. They managed to secure the town and prevent demolition of fresh water wells that they needed.
And they used their own Australian horses, many were left behind! 🐎
Thanks for highlighting this, mate. I appreciate it. I had some relatives serve in Tobruk.
Yes my grandad was a Rat. When they come home brief before having to be deployed to Papua New Guinea he got to meet he first baby My mum who by then was nearly 4 I think.
My father was a Rat, and on The Kokoda Track, (another pivotal battle for Australians), and also in the Ramu Valley.
At Tobruk, the Australians and New Zealanders were under constant attack by Stuka dive-bombers.He, and our family suffered from his PTSD and other illnesses contracted during the war.
The Victoria Cross is the only Empire, (now Commonwealth), medal that can be awarded posthumously.
Lord Haw-haw, (Joyce), was hanged for treason after the war.
The Rats of Tobruk drew the line in the sand. In the Second World War our Australian Men put the first stops on the German and Japanese Armies. We had help of course with strength in allies. Indian Sikhs should be held in high esteem. Speaking of hand 2 hand.The Maori Battalion were the most feared.
My Grandfather was in the 9th Division and fought in the battle of Al Ale main, which is the same Division that became known as the Rats of Tobruk. Most of these soldiers came back to Australia after being recalled by the Australian government to defend Australia after the Japanese invaded New Guinea, they had 3 weeks R&R before shipping off to New Guinea. My Grandfather fought all the way through the Pacific until the end of the war.
My step grandfather was a Rat of Tobruk. When he came home he had what we would probably diagnose today as PTSD. When I was growing up he would never talk about the war. When we visited he would retreat to his garage after a while. I think he suffered a lot in silence. When he married my grandmother she was recently widowed as her husband (my grandfather) had been lost on HMAS Sydney II . My step grandad never let my Dad and his sister mention their real father. The Sydney was lost at sea , with all but one crew member lost, after a battle with the German Kormoran. There was a photo published on the front cover of the Sydney Morning Herald of my grandfather carrying his two children (my dad and his sister) when they came home from I think some famous battle against an Italian ship. If you are looking for more content, perhaps a look at HMAS Sydney II might be interesting.
I am very grateful to you for the insight and respect you show towards Australian culture and history! Yes, we travel a long way to help (and compete in sports) around the world, mateship and hard work are endemic here! My great uncle volunteered to become an Airforce bomber pilot to protect Australia, without a second thought! The Rats really established us as a force to be feared and respected and the tradition continued into France from there! Lest we forget! 😪
The principal of my college was at Tobruk. He used to regale us all with hilarious anecdotes of how they kept morale up in what must have been truly horrific conditions they lived in while holding the defences in heat, dust and poor supplies.
8 kids ... before the Pill ...
Am glad you saw this ... strongest memories of it all.
I am a very proud Australian. ANZAC Day is very special to us. Lest we forget.
Why so many kids there was No Contraception Women had Zero choice Love ur Show
My grandfather taught at Tobruk, he lost his best friend /brother in-law there. He was a Sargent in the infantry 2/2 battalion. He also fought at the battle of Bardia and the Kokoda Trail, he was one of 300 men in in battalion to make it home.
Thank you for researching the Rats of Tobruk ❤
RIP. Another hero gone to Valhalla.
The rats were a big deal in WW2 history. They took the nickname as a badge of honor. Holding Tobruk was essential for the North Africa Campaign, with it being a critical port. The Australians didn't hold it alone but were the main compliment and not just their numbers but their tactics were pivotal to it's defense.
You would also see a similar pride in an insult with the "Tunnel Rats" in Vietnam. These were the guys who went underground into the bunkers and tunnel systems of the VC. Some tunnel systems were small, but others were miniature cities underground, complete with hospitals. If you went into the tunnels you never knew what to expect. It could be a small tunnel network with booby-traps or a miniature city.
Australia also had a famous fleet of ships that was also critical to the North Africa campaign, called the "Scrap Iron Flotilla", another case of turning an insult into a badge of honor. Well worth a look into, as they were also a critical part of the defense of Tobruk.
Lord Haw Haw's famous "Germany Calling" was commonly sampled in 80's and 90's music.
Love to acknowledge some Australian History...when I lived there didn't pay that much attention at school...thanks Ryan love from Italy ❤
Thank you, I love this. My grandfather was a Rat in 2nd/28. To me, he was the most remarkable West Australian man who survived WW2, including escaping three POW camps. He returned to Perth and then met my grandmother on a train in 1945. Miraculously, he somehow managed to survive WW2 and came home. He passed at 98 years old in 2018 and I think of him every day. Bless them all for their service and thank you for this Ryan, your channel is awesome x
My father was in ww2 ..he was an engineer in the 450 squadron was nicknamed ' the desert harassers' in the RAAF..the nickname was derived from the taunts of the 😅German propaganda broadcast "lord haw haw"
5:18 my grandfather served in North Africa, Palestine, Greece and Crete as an engineer.
Australia was almost automatically in WW2 because of our then still close ties with Britain. Until Japan joined in, it was considered our duty to come when Britain called. Of course, once the Pacific war broke out, most of our army was brought back to defend Australia immediately, much to Churchill’s displeasure….
My father was in the navy during WWII and was stationed on HMAS Vendetta during 41 resupply runs into Tobruk!😊
Ryan. We had alliances, as we still do. It goes without saying we’ll do our bit.
Thanks so much for learning so much about my country. And caring about our history
My grandfather told stories about the Rats of Tobruk. He didn't fight in Libya, but he served as Staff Sergeant in Borneo's 9th Division, and he was one of the engineers who desgined the 'Jeep train' (a Jeep on train wheels) used by the Australians. You can go see the Jeep at the War Memorial!
Thanks for that, Ryan. I liked how you followed up on this.
I think you just touched the hearts of many subscribers with links to our mate-ship and boxing kangaroo tradition that we try to keep alive. Thanks mate.
My great Uncle was in the 39th at Kokoda.
Look THAT one up...
You know mate, I am a cynic when it comes to reactors...i understand and believe you know what's happening but it's a "move along nothing else to see here" moment...I have turned a corner with you...I have watched a shit load of your tubes and truly see you get us and enjoy and understand the world as we do, you understand what the Rats fought for and who they are, your desire to correctly pronounce words elates me and your interest and love of this great land refreshes and reminds me of what we have.......and lost...thank you Ryan, keep enjoying, keep learning and ask questions, we will always answer
Australians during World War 2 still very much considered themselves to be part of the British Empire. This is evidenced by the fact that when Great Britain declared war in September 1939, Australia and New Zealand swiftly followed. Hence their participation in the actions in Africa and Europe in WW2. It became a major bone of contention between Prime Ministers Churchill and John Curtin of Australia when Japan entered the war in 1941 by attacking Pearl Harbour and then South-East Asia. Curtin demanded the soldiers be returned to help defend Australia and it's allies in SE Asia.
So happy i stumbled across this. My grandfather was a Rat and am so proud and ever grateful for his and all other diggers service for Australia
My Great Uncle was a rat from Tobruk he did his bit as he said. On his way back his ship was torpedoed and he ended up a pow in the hands of the Japenese. He loved life but Anzac day used to tear him apart.
Tobruk House, mentioned at the end of this piece, is in my neighbourhood. It's on a beautiful upscale avenue leading to the beach. Their doors were open on some days and you were always welcome to go into their hall which was also a good military museum. The veterans were often in there and you could sit down for a cup of tea. We knew they were WW2 legends and showed respect. The guy who bought the building and let them stay is also a class act. Thanks for the video.
I’ve known for years my uncle was a Rat of Tobruk but I only found out, last week, another uncle was also a Rat.
The second uncle, when pulled out of Tobruk, was on the Kokoda Trail with yet another of my uncles.
I’m so proud of the men in my family.
That was so interesting to watch thanks.
My husbands grandfather was a Rat. I could see thru him how they got their reputation, he was a tough little fella.
My grandfather served in Nth Africa, he wasn't at Tobruk but was at El Alemain where they gave Rommel's Afrika Corps a damn good thrashing. Churchill later said the before Alemain we( the allies) never had a victory but after Alemain we never had a defeat
My dad was in North Africa oand went to Greece to help them against the Italian and German Armies but got wounded by German aircraft and sent back to Egypt. He was the bloke who goes forward and radios co ordinates for the artillery.
Right up there in the famous category with the Rats was the Lighthorse. You might want to look up them sometime, especially the charge at Beersheba. My grandfather was a Lighthorseman.
My grandfather was a captain in the rats of Tobruk. He was proud as can be for being part of the unit.
One thing about Aussies - think hard before you try to insult them..
They will take the supposed insult and turn it into a badge of honour :)
Farewell from here to the last of the Rats of Tobruk - but we know they will all be sitting together now and enjoying a cold one together..
My husband's father was also a Rat, 2/17th battalion.
My Legatee father, (Legacy provide an invaluable resource to families who have lost servicemen and women who died either during war or afterwards due to injury or illness... paraphrasing)
was Tom Morrow who was a VFL player for the Geelong Football Club and was a former Rat of Tobruk. He died of skin cancer in the early 2000's believed to have been caused by his time in the Middle East during WW2.
Sadly Tom Pritchard the last rat of Tobruk passed away a few days ago at the age of 102 in Melbourne
My dad was one of The Rats of Tobruk - New Zealand division. He talked about much of his time during the seige of Tobruk - in fact the Germans and Italians who were also there just
wanted to get back home. He took many photographs which his sister (My Aunt Violet) put in an album - detailing each photo.
The Australian War Memorial is excellent
My neighbour Mr Connolly was one of the Rats of Tobruk. I used to go over to eat Mrs Connolly's biscuits and asked questions about his medals in the cabinet. He always said that his experience in the war was the greatest time of his life.
My grandfather was a rat. I have all of his letters to my grandmother explaining what it was like also photos of all the action. Australians are very proud of The Rats Of Tobruk. ❤
Wonderful to hear your thoughts on the Aussie servicemen. I have a son who is in the Australian Army now and has been for the past 29 years. We are very proud of him and his fellow servicemen. It is amazing to listen to you learn about Australia. My husband and I have travelled to the USA a couple of times and were very surprised at the lack of knowledge of USA people of the rest of the world. We were once asked ‘how did we get there… did we drive?’ 😂😂 look forward to you next post…. By the way my so is Ryan as well ❤
We learnt about them at school. They lived and fought from a network of tunnels.
Thank you for this reaction, Ryan.
My pop was a Rat of Tobruk ❤ he was a great man
Stories like this always bring a tear to the eye as we grew up understanding war is a last resort. Though you never look for a fight you must defend yourself when threatened or attacked.
Our family has served since they volunteered for the army of Napoleon.
They gave service since 1779 to many including Austria, France, Denmark, Norway, England, Belgium and Australia.
My grandfather was at Tobruk. He unfortunately died the year before I was born, but from what I have been told he was an incredible man. He and his mates turned the Germans back. He did get shot in the leg though, and watched as German soldiers retreated passed him. One of the soldiers walked up to him and raised his gun, but decided not to shoot and he put his weapon away. He spared my grandfather, maybe cause he was injured and suffering, or he just didn't want to, not sure. Crazy to think that everyone in my family wouldn't be here today if he fired his weapon.
“LEST WE FORGET”. 🇦🇺
Aussie combat vet
The Rats Of Tobruk were the first to stop Rommel in Africa 🇦🇺🇺🇸