The Rats of Tobruk

Last weekend was the 70th Memorial of the start of the siege between Rommel and the Aussie Diggers (the Germans named them the "Rats of Tobruk".

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Some titbits I picked up from a couple of articles. "Adolf Hitler had prepared for war by socially engineering his followers into the "perfect" fighting machines. Identifying with authority, they obeyed rather than thought. They were aggressive, strong, without empathy and at outbreak of World War 2, they crushed all who dared stand in their way.

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But in northern Africa the Germans confronted a very different breed of soldier. They confronted soldiers without respect for authority or for domineering powers. These soldiers were volunteers without dreams of glory but who instead believed that some things were worth fighting for. These soldiers were from Australia and at Tobruk, they gave Hitler his first taste of defeat."

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In January 1941 the Australians attacked the Italian garrison of Tobruk. This city was of extremely important strategic value as it was one of only two ports between Tripoli and Alexandria. The efforts of the forces during the siege of 240 days ensured the Libyan port did not fall into German and Italian hands, significantly hampering enemy supply lines to North Africa.

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On 11th April, 1941 German General Erwin Rommel launched major offences on Tobruk with his "blitzkrieg" approach, this had proved unstoppable before, but not with the Aussie Diggers at Tobruk - this was "blitzkrieg's first failure. These Australians built and used the existing tunnels, gaining a lot of propoganda from the Germans - they called them Rats for being underground (like thieves of the night) the longer the odds Lord Haw Haw offered against the Aussie Diggers chances of getting out, the more heavily the digger backed himself.

The Rats of Tobruk found this propoganda extremely encouraging in that 240 days and just fought on and on.

They played cricket when things were quiet in the desert

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They were proud to be called "Rats" by their enemy.

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A 96 year old "Rat of Tobruk" with his great grandson, last Monday in Canberra.

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Two of my Uncles were "Rats" - a very proud couple of gentlemen, with wonderful sense of humours.

Pie, Mash and Peas!

Well today many things have happened, starting off with more paperwork for our trip, an early morning walk, then a decision to pick up some lovely local meat pies for lunch, and feed Auntie Beryl, Cousin Stephen and his wife Glenda - Pie, Mash and Peas. We wanted to catch up with Auntie Beryl and Steve and Glenda before we left, Steve is Auntie Nalda's eldest son, and he and Glenda drove up to stay in her apartment on Broadbeach for a couple of weeks - of course his older sister (Ails) is in Iran right now. Anyway Steve bought up the photos of Auntie's Wake, taken by cousin in law Robin, so have put a few on this blog. It was a really pleasant place, chosen by Auntie a long time before she passed away.

My "slightly" younger brother (Pete) and I catching up.

(l to r) Cousin-in-laws, Sue and Ann with Ailsa and Susan

Below - the 2 on the left have now got head scarves on in Iran, with cousin in law Ann (not on the trip to Iran!!!)

Below, my eldest God Daughter - Jo - born in England 40 years ago this July to Ails and Rod, and Susan and I were there.

A group of Cousins at the Wake - unfortunately my brother's flight left before this photo was taken.

ROYALTY

My Mum and her sisters, have always enjoyed the Royals, and Auntie Beryl has just bought out all her special souvenir plates etc. to install on her wall. Ann and Wayne just had one shipped from England. Anyway, this year on the day Auntie turns 86, Prince Willian and Kate marry - 29th April. I was looking for something special, but didn't have to go too far, thanks to that clever duck friend of mine Sandy, Auntie will get the card below for her birthday. Unfortunately it has not scanned well - looks so incredible in real life, and it does have jewels on it, and I know Auntie will just love it.

So we had the Pies, peas and mash, the Brig made gravy and it was a delightful couple of hours. I did drag out Mum's box of "all kinds of history" and we talked about the "70th Memorial of the Rats of Tobruk in Libya" this weekend. I have some information on it, to go on the blog tomorrow, but of course Ails and Steve's father (Auntie Nalda's husband) - Uncle Fred - was a Rat - and a very proud one - and of course it turns out that Auntie Beryl's cute man (Arthur) was also a Rat -more on that before we hit the skies tomorrow.

Young Lady Erin from Sheffield

Yesterday, our Neice in Law (Clare) from Sheffield, England, joined us with her friend (Claire) also from Sheffield and her one year old daughter - Miss Erin.

Claire and Erin, had come over to spend a couple of weeks with her cousin and family who live on the Sunshine Coast. Our Clare (in photo below) accompanied them for her 2nd trip back to OZ.

Young Erin is full of life, but also the "good manners" training is well under way.

A truly delightful little person

The little lady dressed for bed after a hot bath with her Mum, Claire on the left.

Frank and the girls on-line to Clare's in laws - Frank's sister and brother in law.

Miss Erin eventually arose at 9 am (can you believe it) after a very quiet night in a cot in our "laundry" - all class these Wroes. She was fed, and we took off for Burleigh Beach. A few photos and suntan cream from Auntie Clare, before a walk to the one of the Burleigh "baby" swings

Loads of fun at Burleigh

This afternoon, after our cafe lunch at the Spit, Erin gets to go and watch the Dolphins and Penguins at Seaworld, and probably again tomorrow for Seals, Sesame Street and sooh much more!! The Clare/Claires are pretty excited too.

Auntie Liz and Uncle Frank really enjoyed, not one tear in 36 hours, a long sleep during the night, I ate plenty, didn't winge at all, and I do understand when my Mum says "No".

So they called me "Young Lady Erin of Oz"

Saturday's Sun

Woke up to a lovely day, a large list of things to accomplish today, but first a long walk on Burleigh Beach was the number one priority.

The surf was very choppy

This board rider chose photography over the "chop" early morning

but the activity was starting to build up

We walked up to North Head first

and there was some "lifeboat" training action

They were really tossed around in the surf

but not phased at all

The "Directors/trainers" - with "their" feet firmly on the sand!

Then back up to one of my very favourite places - South Head!

to sit, watch and catch a few shots.

There was loads of action

Above the wave

in the centre

and, well....

We wandered back to the car via the south end.

Again it was a delightful way to start our day. At this stage I started to wonder about, and where those two " persian" loving cousins of mine were , Susan flew out of Sydney last night, and Ails out of Brisbane - at this stage I would guess they were just meeting up in Dubai, before catching their flight to Tehran - 2 weeks in Iran. I begged them to wear the appropriate "head" scarves and to stay out of trouble ('specially Ails), as I was not hopping over there to bail them out - or whatever!!!

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Then something far more mundane, off to Bunnings to stock up on the necessary plant feed, and bug spray to overlay our whole garden before taking off to somewhere far less restrictive than my two cousins - Italia.

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Of course in readiness, we have been watching quite a few DVD's, last night "Under the Tuscan Sun", and before that "Tea with Mussolini" and "Letters to Juliet". Tonight I think it is "The Talented Mr Ripley", which was partially filmed on Isola Ischia.

Painting for Easter

Young Daniel Frank is into "painting" things right now - are these "Easter Eggs"? Not really sure what his target is??

However, Daniel's mouth has not escaped his creativity - look forward to seeing the end product!

In the meantime Grandpa Frank is preparing for our Italian sojourn.

We will be spending Easter in Amalfi - looking forward to seeing the different Italian pageants over that weekend and Easter Sunday is our 35th Wedding Anniversary.

Friday's Munch!!

I am not sure what to say about the "portrait" below!!

Was the Brig getting a bit carried away about Italy under the Greek colours!!

or looking forward to Mama's fresh Limoncellos and her lemon cake, or maybe those local anchovies self cooked in fresh lemon juice??

No, he was patiently waiting at "George's" Seafood Cafe at Tallebudgera, for the rest of the family. Ails, Rod, Gail, Steve, and we shouted Auntie Beryl an early 86th Birthday lunch last Friday - loads of fun, and their seafood is superb - Auntie undertook the destruction and consumption of a huge "Sole" (from N.Z) she just loved it.

We are going to be away for Auntie's actual birthday, Ails in IRAN with Susan, Gail and Steve caravanning in New South Wales, and of course we will be relaxing, or just starting our tour in Italy. Sue and Ashley will be here to spoil her - wish I had taken a couple of photos - guess I forgot, we were having a lot of fun!!

DFW's FIRST BIRTHDAY

Daniel Frank has celebrated his FIRST BIRTHDAY today in Auckland, the lighting of his number 1 candle certainly caught his attention. Daniel's cake looks just like Ethan James's first Birthday cake celebrated over 4 years ago at Titirangi, the cake and candle caught his attention too, we remember that day, and the demolition of that cake!.

Daniel and his Pirate siblings, Imogen and Ethan, at his party

The "RUNNING" MUSICIAN

Ethan has just purchased a guitar with his pocket money - he really is showing a strong interest in music. He also came 1st and 2nd in two running races at school this week. he told his Grandpa that some of the race runners he beat were a year or so older than he - sounded very proud - so a top few days for him.