Tobruk Withdrawal
Below is a copy of the original official war diary of the 2nd/26th Battalion, from pages dealing with its relief and withdrawal from Tobruk.
The entries appear to be in the handwriting of Arthur Shannon.
To make it easier to read, viewers can ZOOM IN on the page.
The diary page immediately below refers to British and Polish forces taking over the 2/26 positions.
The entries appear to be in the handwriting of Arthur Shannon.
To make it easier to read, viewers can ZOOM IN on the page.
The diary page immediately below refers to British and Polish forces taking over the 2/26 positions.
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The only way out for The Rats was by warship. The war diary extract (above) gives details of the embarkations and warships involved.
The Australians embarked under the cover of darkness over several nights during October 1941.
Withdrawal of the 26th Brigade was achieved without incident. It was just as well, as orders had been issued that the embarkation was to continue even if there was an air attack.
The sideshow below shows the ships used to take the 2/26 Brigade out of Tobruk.
Arthur Shannon journeyed between Tobruk and the Egyptian Port of Alexandria on board the HMS Kandahar.
The only way out for The Rats was by warship. The war diary extract (above) gives details of the embarkations and warships involved.
The Australians embarked under the cover of darkness over several nights during October 1941.
Withdrawal of the 26th Brigade was achieved without incident. It was just as well, as orders had been issued that the embarkation was to continue even if there was an air attack.
The sideshow below shows the ships used to take the 2/26 Brigade out of Tobruk.
Arthur Shannon journeyed between Tobruk and the Egyptian Port of Alexandria on board the HMS Kandahar.
Embarkation was achieved without incident, but a tragedy struck during the voyage of HMAS Nizam en route from Tobruk to the Egyptian port of Alexandria. The official war diaries tell of the rough seas sweeping soldiers overboard to their deaths and causing injuries to several others.
In a cruel twist of fate, a similar event occurred just a few years later. The Nizam was approaching Fremantle W.A. on the night of 11 February 1945 in a Force 7 gale when she was struck by a freak wave while making a turn. Ten naval ratings were washed overboard and drowned. Their bodies were also never recovered.
In a cruel twist of fate, a similar event occurred just a few years later. The Nizam was approaching Fremantle W.A. on the night of 11 February 1945 in a Force 7 gale when she was struck by a freak wave while making a turn. Ten naval ratings were washed overboard and drowned. Their bodies were also never recovered.