Tasmanians remember the Siege of Tobruk, 76 years on

About 14,000 troops were held up in the trenches during the Siege of Tobruk, including soldiers from Tasmania.

They were the first Australians to have contact with the Germans in World War II and became known as the Rats of Tobruk.

To this day, they are remembered each year on April 10, the anniversary of the beginning of the battle.

This weekend will be no different in Launceston, as relatives of the rats join together to honour their memory.

The Children of the Rats of Tobruk Reunion is being coordinated by Don Mackrill, whose father Donald Mackrill fought in World War II.

Mr (Donald) Mackrill served alongside George Henderson who is now the last surviving Tasmanian-born Rat of Tobruk, having celebrated his 100th birthday last month. 

Both Mr Mackrill and Mr Henderson enlisted in 1939 and were assigned to the 2/12 Australian Infantry Battalion – which was made up of Tasmanians and Queenslanders. 

Serving with the 9th division, Mr Mackrill was a battalion dispatch rider in Tobruk – delivering urgent messages and orders between military units.

After six years of service, he was discharged in 1945 before he passed away in 1992.

Seventy-six years on from the siege and there are only about 15 rats left in Australia, including one in Hobart who was originally from Poland and Mr Henderson in Launceston.

Saturday’s reunion will include sons, daughters, sisters, brothers and wives of the rats.

“It is important to keep their memory alive. These lads, our forefathers, endured one of the longest battles – it’s about tradition, comradery, patriotism,” Mr (Don) Mackrill said.

“I think it’s even more important to us because it’s also in our blood, we’ve got a direct relationship with them.”

The reunion will include a service at St Marks on the Hill Anglican Church in Launceston from 11am and a 3pm service at the Rats of Tobruk Memorial in Kings Park.

While researching the Rats of Tobruk ahead of this weekend’s reunion in Launceston, reporter Melissa Mobbs discovered a personal connection to the 241 day siege in Libya.

Looking back on the bravery and commitment of our men and women who served on the battlefield is an emotional experience for all Australians.

So when I recently took on the task of researching our involvement in the Siege of Tobruk for an article, I knew it would be a confronting experience.

After a trip to the George Town RSL to meet Don Mackrill, whose father was a Rat of Tobruk, I realised just how special the stories of these soldiers were – their courage, loyalty and sacrifice. 

Amazingly, I also discovered that my own grandfather, Charles Alfred Hamilton Pugh, was in fact a Rat Of Tobruk.

Don managed to find my pop’s records online and within a few minutes, I had access to 20 pages of information about him and his time of service.

Enlisting in 1940, he served until 1948 and completed 615 active service days in Australia and 1212 days overseas.

He was wounded in action on multiple occasions and even had a few offences on his record.

As soon as I arrived back in Launceston I spent hours reading those documents. 

I now feel even more honoured to have known him, and to know what kind of man he was before he became ‘my pop’. He would have been 99 this year. 

Lest we forget, the Rats of Tobruk.