RSL visit honours memory of the Rats of Tobruk

Mansfield RSL members stepped back into wartime history last month during a visit to the ‘85 for 85’ exhibition at Tobruk House in Melbourne. It was an insightful and thought-provoking tour for more than 25 members. The day trip by bus also included a stop en route at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Seymour, followed by lunch at the Caulfield RSL club. The trip was organised by the local RSL, in conjunction with one of its members, retired Major Bruce Bingham, a son of a Rat of Tobruk and a past president of the Rats of Tobruk Association (ROTA) based in Melbourne. Approximately 14,000 Australians were involved in the siege of Tobruk. The siege ran from 10 April to 7 December 1941 for a total of 242 days and is described by the association as being one of the longest sieges in British military history. On their return home, soldiers looked to continue their comradeship. They wanted to maintain the ties created among those who were in Tobruk and to ensure anyone in need was supported. The Victorian branch of ROTA was established in October 1945. Since 1956, its spiritual home has been Tobruk House in Albert Park. In 2012, membership was extended to include descendants and relatives of Tobruk veterans. Benjamin Joseph Bingham, who trained as an engineer and served in the 2/13 Field Company, joined up in Queensland. His son Bruce is extremely proud of his father’s contribution and has many stories of his time serving, including “the Allies being short of equipment” and having to resort to using enemy guns and even a German staff car – a Volkswagen. Benjamin returned to Australia and later died aged 96. Bruce also knew Tom Pritchard very well, Australia’s last Rat of Tobruk, who died on 3 August 2024, aged 102. The ‘85 for 85’ exhibition tells the story of Tobruk 85 years on through 85 pieces of history. The Mansfield RSL has lent item 27 from its own collection for the exhibition, a 2/23rd Battalion officer’s uniform worn by a member of the 9th Division that served in the North African campaign. The 2/23rd Battalion took part in the defence of Tobruk in 1941, where Australian forces held the port during the siege. Officers wore standard khaki service dress adapted for desert conditions, with unit colour patches identifying their formation within the 9th Division. Equipment such as webbing, belts and sidearms reflected the demands of front-line command in an exposed, constantly shelled environment.