Tobruk 1941
Page 41
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1 In the withdrawal from Bengazi, the defence and relief of Tobruk, at least 776 officers and men of the A.I.F. were killed or died of wounds. Some of these have no known grave. Most of the 65 Australians posted missing are now presumed to have been killed also. The full list of A.I.F. casualties in this and other Middle East Campaigns is given in Appendix I.
APPENDIX I
TOBRUK GARRISON
a. Formations and Units
The principal units in the garrison from April till mid-August 1941 were:
Australian
H.Q. 9th Australian Division and Divisional Troops.
Infantry
18th Brigade: 2/9th, 2/10th, 2/12th Battalions.
20th Brigade: 2/13th, 2/15th, 2/17th Battalions.
24th Brigade: 2/28th, 2/32nd, 2/43rd Battalions.
26th Brigade: 2/23rd, 2/24th, 2/48th Battalions.
Artillery
2/12th Field Regiment; 3rd Anti-tank Regiment (less one battery); 16th, 20th, 24th, 26th Anti-tank Companies; 8th Light A.A. Battery.
Engineers and Pioneers
2/1st Pioneer Battalion; 2/3rd, 2/4th, 2/7th, 2/13th Field Companies; 2/4th Field Park Company.
Medical Units
4th General Hospital; 2/2nd Casualty Clearing Station (until July 20th); 2/3rd, 2/4th, 2/8th, 2/11th Field Ambulances.
Miscellaneous Ordnance, A.S.C. and Postal Units.
British
Artillery
Field: H.Q. R.A.; 1st, 104th and 107th Regiments R.H.A.; 51st Army Field Regiment; 4th Durham Survey Regiment.
Anti-tank: 3rd R.H.A. (less one battery).
Anti-aircraft: 4th A.A. Brigade H.Q.; 51st Heavy A. A. Regiment H.Q.; (152nd, 153rd, 235th Heavy A.A. Batteries); 14th Light A.A. Regiment H.Q.; (39th, 40th, 57th and part of 1st Light A.A. Batteries); 306th Searchlight Battery.
Coast: 206th and 530th C.A. Batteries.
Machine-Gunners
1st Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
Armoured Forces
3rd Armoured Brigade, now including 1st R.T.R. (23 cruiser tanks); one squadron, 7th R.T.R. (4 and later 12 ‘I’ tanks); Composite Regiment, mostly from 3rd Hussars (light tanks) and King’s Dragoon Guards (armoured cars).
Engineers
551st Army Troops Company.
Miscellaneous
One Company of Special Service Troops (Commandos).
A.S.C., Ordnance and Port Authority Personnel.
Indian
18th Indian Cavalry Regiment (dismounted).
Others
During the early months of the siege there were in Tobruk some Palestinian and Cypriot troops who worked on the waterfront, and a Libyan Labour Battalion that had been raised during the first desert campaign.
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So far as I know the only fighting units that saw the siege right through from April to December were:
British: 1st Royal Northumberland Fusiliers; 1st, 104th, 107th Regiments R.H.A.; 1st R.T.R.; 39th and 40th Light A.A. Batteries.
Australian: 2/13th Battalion.
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b. Strength
The numerical strength of the garrison at various times is shown by the following table:
April 12th
35 307
April 21st
33 109
May 2nd
22 800 (approx.)
June 30th
22 305
July 30th
22 026
August 31st
22 996
September 30th
25 029
The relative strengths of the British, Australian, Indian and later Polish troops is shown by this table:
A.I.F.
British
April 21st
14 817
18 292 (inc. about 550 Indians)*
June 30th
14 326
7979 (inc. 500 Indians)
Poles
August 31st (after 1st flight of A.I.F. had left)
12 400
5775 (inc. 300 Indians)
4821
September 30th (after departure of 2nd flight)
7716
12 441
4872
*The Indian troops are included with the British because most of their officers were British.
c. Casualties
The casualties suffered by the A.I.F. during the siege of Tobruk, in the other Middle East campaigns and in New Guinea up to January 1943 are shown in the following table:
APPENDIX II
HONOURS AND AWARDS
FOR gallantry and outstanding service during the capture, siege and relief of Tobruk more than 240 officers and men of the A.I.F. were decorated, and their names are set out in this appendix. So far as I know this list is complete, but some names may have been inadvertently omitted, others may have been wrongly included. For instance, some members of the 9th Division who were decorated during 1942 may have received their awards as much for their good work at Tobruk as at El Alamein, but I have not included them in this list.
It has been rather difficult to work out a satisfactory basis for the inclusion of the names of men who were decorated after the first Libyan campaign, for in many cases the decorations were awarded for the recipient’s work in the campaign as a whole. Where this was the case the name appears in this list, but I have not included the names of those whose decoration was awarded for a particular act at, say, Bardia or Derna, even though their general good service at the capture of Tobruk may have indirectly contributed to the decision in the awarding of decorations. The ranks given are those held by the recipients at the time the awards were made. Every care has been taken to see that this list is accurate, but I hope that those whose names unfortunately may have been omitted will appreciate the difficulties involved.
Victoria Cross (V.C.)
Cpl. J. H. Edmondson
Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.)
Brigadier A. S. Allen, C.B.E., D.S.O., V.D.
Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.)
Major-General I. G. Mackay, C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D.
Major-General L. J. Morshead, C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., E.D.
Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.)
Col. F. H. Berryman, D.S.O.
T/Col. T. P. Cook, O.B.E., E.D.
Col. H. C. Disher
Brig. E. F. Herring, D.S.O., M.C., E.D.
Col. C. E. M. Lloyd
Brig. H. C. H. Robertson, D.S.O.
Brig. S. G. Savige, D.S.O., M.C., E.D.
Col. N. L. Spiers, V.D.
Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.)
Maj. H. T. Allan
Lieut.-Col. A. Brown, D.S.O., M.C.
Lieut.-Col. W. E. Cremor, E.D.
Lieut.-Col. T. P. Cook, E.D.
Maj. G. A. Davis
Lieut.-Col. B. S. Hanson
Lieut.-Col. C. W. B. Littlejohn
Lieut.-Col. N. B. Loveridge
Maj. F. W. MacLean
Maj. G. H. O’Brien
T/ Lieut.-Col. N. H. W. Saxby
Lieut.-Col. D. N. Veron
Lieut.-Col. J. A. Watson
Maj. W. W. Wearne
Lieut.-Col. E. W. Woodward
Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.)
Lieut. E. C. V. Adams
Lieut. D. D. Balfour-Ogilvie
Capt. J. A. Bishop
Capt. G. D. T. Cooper
Lieut. H. A. Davidson-Craig
Lieut. H. G. Davis
Capt. A. H. Dixon
Capt. R. Drummond
Capt. M. Feitel
Capt. A. Fryberg
T/Capt. P. G. I. Northey
Lieut. A. H. Pearson
Lieut. G. P. Wild
Capt. T. H. Winchester
Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.)
Maj. J. N. Abbott
Maj. R. K. And
erson
Lieut.-Col. L. E. S. Barker
Maj. G. H. Brock
Lieut.-Col. F. A. Burrows, M.M., E.D.
Maj. I. R. Campbell
Lieut.-Col. F. O. Chilton
Lieut.-Col. J. W. Crawford, E.D.
Lieut.-Col. I. N. Dougherty
Lieut.-Col. K. W. Eather
Lieut.-Col. V. T. England
Lieut.-Col. B. Evans
Capt. W. Forbes
Lieut.-Col. H. G. Furnell
Maj. A. S. Gehrmann
Lieut.-Col. A. H. L. Godfrey, M.C., E.D.
Maj. J. F. Herbertson
Capt. J. A. Hutchinson
Lieut.-Col. J. E. Lloyd, M.C.
Lieut.-Col. L. C. Lucas, M.C., V.D.
Maj. D. Macarthur Onslow
T/Col. J. Mann
Lieut.-Col. J. E. G. Martin, O.B.E.
Maj. A. G. Torr
Lieut.-Col. T. G. Walker
Lieut.-Col. W. J. V. Windeyer
Bar to Distinguished Service Order
Brig. A. H. L. Godfrey, D.S.O., M.C., E.D.
Brig. J. J. Murray, D.S.O., M.C., V.D.
Brig. R. W. Tovell, D.S.O., E.D.
Brig. G. F. Wootten, D.S.O.
Military Cross (M.C.)
Lieut. J. L. Allen
Capt. J. W. Balfe
Lieut. G. Beckingsale
Lieut. H. R. Beer
Capt. F. L. Bode
Lieut. E. R. Bucknell
Lieut. J. R. Burrell
Lieut. W. S. Cantelo
Capt. W. E. L. Catchlove
Capt. W. W. Cobb
Capt. F. W. Cook
Lieut. S. C. Diffey
Lieut. H. L. E. Dunkley
Lieut. M. R. Ellenby
Lieut. J. T. Finlay
Lieut. E. H. Gerard
Lieut. P. R. Gilmour
Capt. D. L. B. Goslett
Capt. S. J. M. Goulston
Capt. E. A. Handley
Lieut. P. S. Hayman
Capt. J. G. Hendry
Lieut. E. C. Hennessy
Capt. J. H. Hodge
Capt. R. Joshua
Capt. L. McCarter
Lieut. J. E. Macdonald
Capt. R. W. F. McDonald
Lieut. G. F. McDonnell
Lieut. F. A. Mackell
T/Capt. L. C. Maclarn
Capt. R. E. McPherson
Capt. G. I. Malloch
Lieut. T. Mills
Capt. D. O. Muller
Lieut. A. C. Murchison
Lieut. H. W. Nicholls
Capt. C. H. B. Norman
Lieut. W. H. Noyes
Lieut. J. W. Overall
Lieut. J. L. Perry
Capt. R. Rattray
Lieut. A. L. Reid
Lieut. J. S. Rosel
Capt. J. J. Ryan
Lieut. D. C. Siekmann
Capt. A. L. F. Taylor
Lieut. H. L. Thompson
T/Capt. N. A. Vickery
Capt. O. M. Walsoe
Lieut. E. R. Wilmoth
Lieut. J. H. Wilton
Lieut. R. A. Yates
Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field (D.C.M.)
Sgt J. W. Barnard
Sgt L. W. C. Batty
Sgt E. F. Boland
Sgt J. W. Christisen
Sigmn K. R. Clift
A/Sgt R. W. Hobson
L/Sgt J. G. Hunt
WO II B. H. Macdougal
Sgt V. D. McQuillan
Pte O. Z. Neall
Pte L. R. Passmore
L/Sgt E. R. Peel
Cpl A. A. Picket
A/Sgt N. H. Russell
Sgt J. E. Searle
Cpl G. O. Smithers
WO II W. H. Stenning
L/Cpl A. J. Taylor
Sgt H. L. Watts
Cpl J. K. Weston
Sgt K. W. Young
Military Medal (M.M.)
Sgt W. M. Allison
Cpl C. A. Amos
Pte P. M. Anderson
Cpl L. G. Armstrong
Cpl F. C. Aston
Gnr R. J. Baldwin
Pte L. Bennett
Pte N. Blundell
L/Cpl F. O. Booth
Sigmn W. A. Bruce
Pte W. C. Button
Sgt C. H. Cawthorne
L/Sgt R. J. Chambers
Sgt T. Charlton
Pte H. P. Clark
Gnr E. J. Courtney
Sgt A. Crawford
Cpl W. B. Curren
Spr M. L. Daly
Pte R. G. Daniells
WO II J. H. Deane
Cpl C. R. Dodd
Spr J. Dodd
Cpl A. E. Dunbar
Pte E. O. J. Dunning
Pte H. Ferres
Cpl W. L. France
Cpl D. L. Fraser
L/Cpl H. D. Genner
L/Sgt C. Gilbert
Cpl L. Gracie
Cpl J. C. Gray
Cpl L. R. Goode
Pte C. G. Hackett
Sigmn A. C. Hammond
WO II A. J. Harrison
A/Cpl C. B. Hayes
Sgt P. R. Hook
Pte J. Hunt
L/Cpl D. W. Hutchinson
Sgt W. C. Jarman
L/Sgt T. L. Johnson
Sgt E. J. Johnston
Sgt G. H. Jones
Pte J. McG. Kelly
Cpl M. J. Kennedy
Sgt A. H. Knight
Pte C. Lamond
Sgt R. P. McG. Lee
Sgt E. B. Lodge
Sgt L. M. Long
A/Sgt G. Lucas
A/Cpl F. R. Lynch
Pte R. A. McBain
Sgt G. W. D. McCarthy
Tpr C. L. McCarthy
Sgt R. McL. McElroy
Pte D. M. McGinty
Spr T. J. McGreevy
Pte G. S. McGrow
Sgt A. A. Mcllrick
Sgt B. L. McKay
Sigmn R. D. McKeague
L/Sgt J. M. McWilliam
Spr W. Madams
L/Sgt J. W. Maynes
A/Sgt J. V. P. Mooney
Pte F. Munnich
Sgt V. E. Nash
L/Cpl H. B. Nutt
Pte H. O’Brien
Pte M. J. O’Connell
Pte B. P. O’Donnell
Spr G. Parsonage
Sgt R. A. Patrick
Pte L. T. Perkins
WO II R. B. Quinn
Pte D. E. Rayner
Sgt E. J. Richards
Sgt C. G. Rigg
L/Sgt F. G. Rodda
A/Sgt L. Rodda
A/Sgt H. T. Sayers
Sgt R. W. Shepheard
Pte K. Smith
Pte J. L. Spavin
L/Cpl C. T. Stanford
Sgt L. L. Stone
L/Sgt G. A. Stuckey
Sgt E. B. Thurman
Pte E. T. Unwin
Pte J. Vardy
A/Cpl G. G. Williams
Pte F. Wright
Sgt A. J. Wyatt
George Medal
Cpl W. L. Bowman
Spr J. W. G. Gleaves
Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service (B.E.M.)
Sgt R. W. Anderson
Sgt L. Austin
Bdr R. Auton
Pte R. Muirhead
Polish Decorations
Krzyz Waleczynch
Lieut.-Col. F. A. Burrows, M.M., E.D.
Virtuti Militari
Major-General L. J. Morshead, C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., E.D.
APPENDIX III
THE MAIN EVENTS OF 1941
The following table sets out the main events of 1941, showing in italics those which are dealt with in this book:
JANUARY:
3rd.
6th Australian Division and British forces attack Bardia.
5th.
Italian resistance at Bardia ends.
10th.
First battle in the Mediterranean between the Royal Navy and the Luftwaffe – H.M. Aircraft-Carrier Illustri
ous damaged.
21st.
6th Australian Division and British forces attack Tobruk.
22nd.
Italian resistance at Tobruk ends.
FEBRUARY:
7th.
Australians occupy Bengazi: British round up the last of Graziani’s forces in Cyrenaica.
9th.
Mr Churchill appeals to the United States, ‘Give us the tools and we will finish the job.’
25th.
First clash between British and German mechanized patrols in Libya, west of El Agheila.
MARCH:
1st.
Bulgaria joins Axis and German troops enter the country.
11th.
President Roosevelt signs the ‘Lend-Lease’ Bill.
24th.
Germans capture El Agheila.
25th.
Yugoslavia joins Axis.
27th.
Bloodless revolution in Yugoslavia: pro-Axis Government overthrown.
Fall of Keren, chief Italian fortress in Eritrea.
28th–29th.
Italian fleet routed at Battle of Matapan, off Crete.
31st.
Axis forces drive British from Mersa Brega and Rommel begins counter-offensive into Cyrenaica.
APRIL:
4th.
British evacuate Bengazi.
6th.
Germans invade Yugoslavia and Greece.
British and Australian forces begin general withdrawal in Cyrenaica.
8th.
Fiercest German raid on Coventry.
10th.
Last British and Australian units withdraw inside Tobruk perimeter. Siege begins.
13th.
Germans capture Bardia and reach Egyptian frontier at Sollum.
14th.
First serious German attack on Tobruk repulsed.
24th.
Evacuation of Anglo-Anzac forces from Greece begins.
27th.
Germans enter Athens.
30th.
Rommel launches second serious attack on Tobruk.
MAY:
1st–3rd.
Attack on Tobruk continues, but peters out.
10th.