Tweed Heads Rats of Tobruk Memorial Middle Image Image Image Image Image 0 / 0 - Prev Next Description / Background The Tweed Heads Rats of Tobruk Memorial is a concrete pillar, located in Carlin Family Park. Attached to the pillar are four bronze plaques and two Latin crosses. The pillar is positioned on a concrete platform, consisting of three levels. The first plaque is dedicated to the Australian and allied soldiers who died or served at the Siege of Tobruk, which took place in 1941 during the Second World War. The second gives a brief description of Tobruk's significance during the war. Plaque three is dedicated to the sailors of the Mediterannean Fleet who lost their lives in the siege and the fourth plaque describes the role of the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Navy during the siege. The below is an extract from the Australian War Memorial website: Between April and August 1941 around 14,000 Australian soldiers were besieged in Tobruk by a German–Italian army commanded by General Erwin Rommel. The Nazi propagandist Lord Haw Haw (William Joyce) derided the tenacious defenders as 'rats', a term that the Australian soldiers embraced as an ironic compliment. The Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy provided the garrison's link to the outside world, the so-called 'Tobruk ferry'. These ships included the Australian destroyers Napier, Nizam, Stuart, Vendetta and Voyager. Losses comprised two destroyers, including HMAS Waterhen, three sloops, including HMAS Parramatta, and 21 smaller vessels. Inscription Plaque 1 RATS OF TOBRUK MEMORIAL This monument is a replica of one erected in Tobruk to commemorate the sacrifices of the 680 Australian and other allied soldiers who died in its defence April December 1941 and the many who have since died may they rest in peace. Lest We Forget Plaque 2 TOBRUK A strategic port on the North African coast was the scene of the longest siege in British military history and the first defeat of the German Army in World War 2. Australian troops involved were mostly 9th Division and 18th Brigade A.I.F. together with soldiers from Britain, India and Poland. Plaque 3 THE STORY OF THE NAVY This magnificent site is dedicated to the sailors of the Mediterranean Fleet who lost their lives in operations supporting the Tobruk Siege comprising 180 trips of 1000 klm. 31 ships were lost to enemy action including HMAS Waterhen and HMAS Parramatta. Battle scarred surviviors were HMAS Ships Napier, Nizam, Stuart, Voyager, Vendetta, Vampire and Yarra. 178 Australians have no named graves. Lest We Forget Plaque 4 THE STORY OF THE NAVY The Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Navy played a huge part in the success of the Tobruk Siege. The perilious journey was from Alexandria through enemy controlled waters known as the spud run. Ships delivered troops supplies, munitions and mail. Evacuated 7516 wounded 7097 POWs and eventually the Australian Garrison of 32,667. The Rats of Tobruk Lifeline Related links Australian War Memorial - Siege of Tobruk Do you know more about this war Memorial? Click here to learn how you can contribute Sidebar Address Carlin Family Park Tweed Terrace Tweed Heads NSW 2485 Local Government Area Tweed Shire Setting Garden/park Location status Original location Memorial type Column/pillar Recorded by Graham Wilson Conflict/s Second World War, 1939–45 Materials Bronze Concrete