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Volume 128 April 2021 Volume 128 April 2021 RATS OF TOBRUK ASSOCIATION Inc. 44 Victoria Avenue, ALBERT PARK, VIC 3206 www.ratsoftobrukassociation.org.au PHONE No 0432 232 502 General Meetings normally start at 10.30am (No Meetings January, May, July, September and November) The dates below are subject to change. For more up to date information call 0432 232 502 Month / Date Event Description April 11 Tobruk Sunday April 25 Anzac Day & Open Day at Tobruk House June 25 General Meeting August 27 Shrine of Remembrance Carpathian Brigade Commemorative Service October 22 General Meeting December 6 Christmas Lunch – Details TBA Patron: Bill Gibbins TOBRUK HOUSE NEWS Committee of Management: Deadlines President – Graham Gibson Editorial and Advertising Vice President – Mike Kiernan NEXT ISSUE: JUNE 2021 Secretary – Glenda Garde DEADLINE: MAY 2 Treasurer - Mike Kiernan We welcome contributions from our Other Committee Members – community but cannot guarantee publication. Christine Mulvaney, Bob Horton, Email is preferred with documents in Word Graeme Clifford, Tony Smith, and pictures in jpeg format but not essential. Heather Macfarlane, Ian Marr, Articles or letters with no contact details Karolina Sevcikova, Stuart Tolliday, will not be published. Lachlan Gaylard Editor: Stuart Tolliday Tony Codd – Hall Keeper DISCLAIMER COPYRIGHT NOTICE The views expressed by contributors are All articles and photographs used in this not necessarily those of the publication are copyright unless otherwise Rats of Tobruk Association Inc. stated. They should not be sold or used in The material used in this publication is any other publication without the express checked for accuracy, but no liability can be assumed for any losses due to the use written permission from the Committee of of any material published herein. this Association. CONTACT US : [email protected] 2 VALE They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. LEST WE FORGET The President and ROTA Inc. members wish to extend our condolences and deepest sympathy to the families and friends of our departed comrades: HODGES, Stanley, WX10439, 2/48 Bn, February 2021, 100 DUNCAN, Glenn, Affiliate Member, February 2021 Our thoughts and prayers are extended to all families at this sad time. Rats of Tobruk Association Inc. President’s Report – April With the 80th Anniversary of the Siege of Tobruk (April 10th, 1941) fast approaching, I just want to remind members about the Tobruk Sunday Commemorative Service (11th April starting at 2.00pm) being held in Tobruk Reserve opposite Tobruk House 44 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park, Victoria. The Rats of Tobruk Pipes and Drums Memorial Band will lead the ceremony followed by a service in which the Hon Ted Baillieu will present a short address. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the flag that flew on every car that Lieutenant General Sir Leslie James Morshead, KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO, ED used during WW2, will be presented by his driver’s daughter, Valerie Houghton, in memory of her father Alan Houghton VX32422, to the Rats of Tobruk Association, where it will be placed on permanent display. This will be followed by afternoon tea at Tobruk House opposite the reserve, Covid restrictions permitting. The first ROTA meeting at Tobruk House since February 2020 was a very moving event as we welcomed veteran Tommy Pritchard, members of the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation and the ROTA RCH Neuroscience Fellow for 2021, Dr Nicola Fearn who was presented with her award medallion. The Deputy Lord Mayor, Cr Marcus Pearl of the City of Port Phillip officially opened our Exhibition, displaying 24 Siege of Tobruk history panels. The panels and their story have received spontaneous acclaim for all who have viewed them. Lisa Cammarano, the designer of the panels and our new website dropped in for the launch and was made very welcome. Tobruk House Open Day on Saturday 27th February was very successful with many visitors coming through our doors, please see the full report in this edition of THN. Many thanks to our volunteers who helped prepare for and run the Exhibition, we could not have done this without you, thank-you. At this date Tobruk House will be an Open House on ANZAC Day from 11.00am to 3.00pm. No meals will be served on the day due to the uncertainty of Covid restrictions. Wishing you all good health. Graham Gibson President ROTA 3 LOOKING FOR INFORMATION (1) Testament To A Lost Rat – A request from Brenton Whittle My father, Ralph Keith Linthorne Cresdee Whittle (nicknamed Taffy) Sgt SX9054, served with the 2/8 Field Ambulance in Tobruk, and while there in 1941, during one of the many bombing raids by the Germans, the tent of a fellow member of the 2/8, Les Jensen (SX8529), was hit. Les lived, but I believe he was wounded and sent to Alexandria. A later search of the remains of his tent revealed a small Marked Testament. (A Marked Testament is a bible with certain verses marked for easy reference. – Ed) I found this recently in my late father’s war memorabilia, and discovered a note written by my father in pencil inside the little bible, which reads: “This book belonged to Les Jensen of 2/8 Aust Fd Ambulance & was found among his possessions when his tent was bombed in May 1941. Les was unfortunately lost at sea en route to Alexandria in a barge in June 1941.” There is also a touching note inside the cover written in beautiful script, possibly by the person who gave this to Les as he went off to war. Maybe his mother, or wife. I am not sure now of the accuracy of the mention that he was lost at sea in June 1941, as a search of the available records show that an Andrew Leslie Jensen of the 2/8 Field Ambulance was discharged in 1943. I would very much like to know if anyone has any more information regarding Les Jensen, as I would like to return the little book to his relatives. Please contact ROTA if you can assist. 4 LOOKING FOR INFORMATION (2) We received the following request relating to the Tobruk Barracks Sergeants Mess. If you can assist in any way, please contact the writer directly. OFFICIAL Sir/Ma’am, The Tobruk Barracks Sergeants Mess in Puckapunyal holds several historic artefacts from Tobruk we would like to add background stories to. We are starting with two of the larger and more prominent items on display. Folio 146 WWII German vehicle recognition flag. This item is identical to one in the AWMM captured at Tobruk by CAPT A F Smith 2/5 BN (EDITOR’S NOTE: we have chosen to blank out the Nazi emblem on this flag in the THN) Folio 148 Italian aircraft marking roundel. I have funding available to add brass plates to these items to replace the current plastic plates and I would like to know if there is any history of these items that can be added to the display. Any assistance you may provide will be appreciated. For your consideration. Darrin Neale Warrant Officer Class Two LOGWO Army School of Transport Puckapunyal MILPO Vic 3662 Ph:03 573 56883 Mob: 0439 883 97 5 FROM THE ARCHIVES While doing some research for the presentation of the 10th Rats of Tobruk Association Neuroscience Fellowship we discovered a ‘picture book’ record of the first award, made in 2011. These images mark the establishment of this valuable legacy. See page 14 to find out how you can help support this fund. 6 FEBRUARY MEETING REPORT The February meeting at Tobruk House was supposed to be a big ‘Welcome back’ event but unfortunately Covid-19 restrictions put a damper on our plans with strict attendance number limitations. (Those limitations were actually lifted the following day, which allowed the first Tobruk House Open Day to proceed.) There were two very important items on the agenda for the meeting, and they were formal awarding of the annual Rats of Tobruk Association Neurology Fellowship medallion and the official opening of the Rats of Tobruk Exhibition* by local Councillor and Deputy Mayor Marcus Pearl. In addition to the committee members, other special guests included Professor Monique Ryan, RCH Foundation CEO Sue Hunt, Philanthropy Executive Donna Aranyi, and 2021 Fellow Nicola Fearn from the Royal Children’s Hospital, veteran Tom Pritchard, and graphic artist Lisa Cammarano, creator of the exhibition and revamped website. *The Exhibition was generously sponsored by the Victorian Government President Graham Gibson addresses the first meeting for 2021 Professor Ryan talks about the impact of the ROTA Fellowship President Graham Gibson presenting Doctor Fearn Deputy Mayor Marcus Pearl officially opens the Exhibition with the ROTA Fellowship medallion Committee member Ian Marr inspects the Exhibition Dr Nicola Fearn with veteran Tom Pritchard 7 TOBRUK HOUSE OPEN DAY AND EXHIBITION On Saturday February 27 a special Open Day was held, primarily to allow people to view the newly opened exhibition which tells the story of the siege and the history of our association. Lachlan Gaylard prepared a fabulous memorabilia display and a special panel showing photographs of all the known living Rats from 1941 and today. Many ROTA members gave up their time both in the preparation of the hall and to guide visitors on the day. In excess of 200 people visited during the day, Merchandise Officer Graeme Clifford reported significant merchandise sales and we gained a few new members, and we ‘found’ another Rat! His name is John Selby Campbell and he served with the 2/3 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment.
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