Seventy-six years since the Siege of Tobruk in World War II, family members of Tasmanian and Australian soldiers will gather in Launceston to recognise their contribution to the eight-month battle.
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The Australian soldiers who fought in Libya were known as the Rats of Tobruk and will be honoured through a memorial event to be held ahead of the anniversary of the beginning of the siege on April 10.
The ‘rats’ were mostly from Tasmania and Queensland and the Tasmanian Rats of Tobruk Association was formed in 1945.
While the association closed in 1999, a final reunion was held in 2004.
One soldier who attended the reunion was Tasmanian-born Rat of Tobruk, George Henderson.
Earlier this month, Mr Henderson celebrated his 100th birthday and he is now the last surviving ‘rat’ in the state.
Mr Henderson was one of about 14,000 Australian soldiers who took shelter in the trenches at Tobruk during the 241-day campaign against German and Italian troops.
To commemorate his service and that of his fellow soldiers, the Tasmanian Siege of Tobruk weekend will be held on Saturday, April 8.
Organised by the ‘Children of the Rats of Tobruk’, the day will start with a service at St Marks on the Hill Anglican Church in Launceston from 11am.
The service will be followed by a luncheon at the Launceston RSL and then a 3pm service at the Rats of Tobruk Memorial in Kings Park.
If you are a relative of a Rat of Tobruk and would like to participate in the day, contact donmackrill@bigpond.com or search ‘Remember the Rats of Tobruk’ group on Facebook.