George V. Smith Award 2023 - The Rats of Tobruk

Since 2015 The George V. Smith Award has been awarded to the Wesley student who writes the best essay about the ANZAC Spirit. The award is a joint effort by Friends of the Odd Bods and George Smith's family. Teachers at Wesley choose the best essay each year and the winner is awarded a certificate and a $500 online book voucher to assist in their education.

Odd Bods founder George Smith championed the concept of the Odd Bods association with Wesley College, Glen Waverley, stimulating student’s interest in, and understanding of, the significance of Australia’s contribution to the military and the ANZAC Spirit.

Friends of the Odd Bods congratulate student Kirwan Schoenborn on winning the 2023 award. Here is her essay -

George V. Smith Award winning essay 2023 by Kirwan Schoenborn

Rats of Tobruk

“[The] poor desert rats of Tobruk” – William ‘Lord Haw Haw’ Joyce, Nazi propagandist The ANZAC spirit that was born in Gallipoli on the 25th of April 1915 has been demonstrated repeatedly through Australian history, notably in the small port of Tobruk. Tobruk is found in north-eastern Libya and was placed under siege by the Axis in the second world war from March in 1941 to June of 1942 (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2021). It was an essential harbour for bringing in supplies that the Nazis needed, and by protecting the land the Allies successfully pushed back and won their very first victory of the Second World War (Wilmot, 1958). And what forces were in the trenches of Tobruk, holding down the town and pushing back harder than anyone could have expected? ANZACs, the Australian 9th division, or later named the “Rats of Tobruk” by Nazi propaganda before they adopted it wholly (Australian War Memorial, n.d.). Tobruk was surrounded with deep water, meaning the dock was very useful for larger shipments coming in on bigger ships, and by capturing the port, the Axis could progress to the Suez Canal (Warburton, 2021). Unfortunately for them, this did not happen. As of the April 1941, the Allies were pummelled with the force of the ‘Afrika Korps’, the German troops sweeping through North Africa at the time. The tactics described by Chester Wilmot, an Australian war correspondent, depict a very flat landscape which the Australian and British garrison used to their advantage by laying low and surprising the enemy (Australian War Memorial, 1958). This clearly worked as the ‘Blitzkrieg’ tactics, for the first time in the duration of the war, failed to roll over Tobruk (Rats of Tobruk Memorial Pipes and Drums, n.d.). Under the cover of night, troops would perform raids on nearby German camps, using stealth to slowly chip away at the Axis force (Army Museum of South Australia, n.d.). The underhand, unusual strategies of the ANZACs coupled with their resolution to stand their ground was what gave them such an advantage over the Nazis. The siege of Tobruk is the epitome of the ANZAC spirit in full force. As Charles Bean stated in ANZAC to Amiens, “ANZAC stood, and still stands, for reckless valour in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship, and endurance that will never own defeat” (Bean, 1983, p. 181). Every single one of these criteria were hit by the Australian soldiers in the trenches of Tobruk. Their recklessness, resourcefulness and enterprise are evident in their strategies and the stealth of their nightly raids. Their comradeship and fidelity are clearly displayed in their trust and loyalty to each other, to the extent that many were willing to sacrifice themselves for others. The endurance and fidelity of the Rats of Tobruk are most obvious in the resolute stance and lack of surrender, which was their motto as shown in Figure 1. For the first time, Nazi tactics were not working, and the Allies were not losing land. For months on end, they refused to concede under the pressure of the Afrika Korps, and as Bean described, their “endurance…never [owned] defeat”. The definition of the ANZAC legend has never been more exemplified than by Rats of Tobruk. The Rats of Tobruk are the perfect example of the continuous and indominable nature of the ANZAC spirit. The soldiers of the Australian 9th division were no doubt brought up on stories of the ANZAC legend of World War I, their parents’ generation, and it is possible that this influenced them later in Tobruk (Australian War Memorial, 2011). Their name itself displays some of the ANZAC spirit, and by extension, Australian culture. By adopting the name ‘Rats of Tobruk’, after the Nazi Propagandist William Joyce used it to mock them, the ANZACs were laughing in the face of the enemy. They persevered under harsh circumstances and embraced the difficulty, not unlike a common, current Australian. The 9th division found humour in even the direst of circumstance, seen notably in the ‘nicknaming culture’. Their commander, Major General (Sir) Leslie James Morshead served at Gallipoli and was well known for being strict, severe and an incredible strategist, which was likely a large factor in Tobruk’s success (Australian War Memorial, n.d.). However, it also earned him the nickname “Ming the Merciless”, or just “Ming”, much like the many nicknames being garnered by Australian politicians to this day (The Rats of Tobruk Association, n.d.). The ANZACs of Tobruk show that the ANZAC legend was not a single occurrence only on the shores ANZAC Cove, but instead something that lives on in Australians then and now.

The ANZAC spirit at Tobruk in 1941 clearly reflects the legend at Gallipoli nearly twenty years earlier. The Rats of Tobruk succeeded in World War II where the Allies had failed, due to their unique traits and unusual strategies. They encapsulated all the tenets of ANZAC culture by looking after each other and persevering in hardship. The qualities shown in Gallipoli and again in Tobruk continue to be shown today and will likely be represented in Australians for many years to come. The spirit of the ANZACs will never be defeated, for it lives on in all Australians.

Bibliography 

Australian War Memorial. (2011, May 19). War Stories: Rats of Tobruk [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USvx4PwbtmA 

Bean, C.E.W. (1983). ANZAC to Amiens. Australian War Memorial. 

Brief History of the Siege of Tobruk. (1958, April 24). Australian War Memorial. https://www.awm.gov.au/sites/default/files/awm-research-file-581.pdf 

Encyclopedia Britannica. (2021, February 11). Tobruk. https://www.britannica.com/place/Tobruk 

Lieutenant General Leslie James Morshead (n.d.). Australian War Memorial. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10676535 

Major General Leslie James Morshead - Ming the Merciless (n.d.). The Rats of Tobruk Association. https://ratsoftobrukassociation.org.au/the-siege/ming-the-merciless-2/ 

Siege of Tobruk (n.d.). Army Museum of South Australia. https://amosa.org.au/museum-exhibits/wwii-exhibits/siege-of-tobruk 

Siege of Tobruk. (n.d.).  Australian War Memorial. https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/tobruk 

Siege of Tobruk. (n.d.). Rats of Tobruk Memorial Pipes and Drums. https://www.rotmpd.org.au/band-history/siege-of-tobruk/ 

Smith, M. (n.d.). Roma Street Rats of Tobruk Memorial [Photograph]. Queensland War Memorial Register. https://www.qldwarmemorials.com.au/memorial?id=276\ 

Warburton, S. (2021, April 7). 80 Years on: Remembering the Rats of Tobruk. The Cove. https://cove.army.gov.au/article/80-years-remembering-rats-tobruk 

                                            Author Kirwan Schoenborn with her Award.

ANZAC Day 2023

A beautiful sunny day in Melbourne greeted Friends of the Odd Bods for today's march and the day just got better with a successful reunion luncheon at the Amora Hotel in Richmond.

Marchers behind the Odd Bods banner included Wing Commander Mike Oram who has seen plenty of media attention this week in his role as ANZAC Ambassador for the Melbourne Football Club.

At the reunion we were honoured with the presence of veterans Doug Parry and Maurie Smith and as you would expect the conversations were informative, and entertaining with no shortage of humour. Guests were treated to a photographic presentation of some key Odd Bods events and personalities over the last 70 or so years which stimulated plenty of discussion.

Our President, Bruce Waxman, was absent due to a pre-arranged boat trip off the Kimberley Coast, however, Vice-President Peter Randell handled the reunion event admirably, and also presented Bruce's ANZAC Day speech. 

We have included some photos in this article and will add more over the next few days. A short video of the march has been added to our facebook page - Enjoy!

1 comment:

Jennifer Hibbens25 April 2023 at 19:56

Wonderful photos of both The March, the wreath laying at our Odd Bods plaque and the Reunion luncheon gathering. So pleased that two of our wonderful Veterans were able to attend.

ANZAC "March" On Board Ship

 

FOTOBAI President, Bruce Waxman, will be onboard a cruise ship between Darwin and Broome on ANZAC Day, but his ANZAC obligations will not be neglected as he prepares for an ANZAC service on board.

Bruce has written an ANZAC address that will be presented by the Ship's Master during the cruise. Below is the content of Bruce's speech and we have also included a link to a video of the onboard service on ANZAC Day - 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Squadron Leader Bruce Philip Waxman OAM AASM (East Timor) RAAF (Rtd) 

President, Friends of the Odd Bods Association Inc. ‘pressing on remembering’. 

I thank the ship’s master Matthew for presenting this address on my behalf as I am in covid isolation. 

The origins of Anzac Day 

On 25 April 1915, the ANZAC legend was born on the shores of Gallipoli in Turkey.  It was a Sunday morning, before dawn, when a group of volunteer Australian and New Zealand soldiers waded  ashore on a small beach, near Gaba Tepe, (pronounced ‘Garba Teepay’) on the eastern shore of the Gallipoli Peninsula.  The term ANZAC is an acronym of Australia & New Zealand Army Corps and from that day on they became known as the ANZACs.  

Moreover the ‘Anzac spirit’ was born which is based on the values of mateship, courage, and selflessness, to which I would like to add kindness. 

Sir John Monash, one of my military and civilian heroes, who led his 4th brigade throughout the Gallipoli campaign organized the first Anzac Day on 15 April 1916 in the field in Egypt, where his troops were recuperating from the campaign.   

He turned out the whole Brigade at 0645, with a short service and stirring address, followed by a march with the massed bands and a finale with the massed buglers playing the Last Post. The rest of the day he declared a holiday with cricket matches, swimming carnival in the Suez Canal and at night a big Mess dinner. 

ANZAC Day was born out of our descendants coming of age at Gallipoli.  ANZAC Day does not glorify war, it is an occasion to remember and pay tribute to all those who have contributed so much, in so many ways, to their countries and their democracy.  ANZAC Day belongs to “Aussies” and “Kiwis”, while Remembrance Day is observed around the world. 

Friends of the Odd Bods Association Inc. 

Some of you who may have met me on this Expedition, might consider me to be a bit of an  ‘Odd Bod’?...... 

In the context of Anzac Day that title belongs to my late father Flying Officer Joseph Waxman DFC RAAF Retired, a bomber pilot with RAAF 466 Squadron in Bomber Command in  WWII surviving 32 sorties over Europe in 1944 – 1945. He was the lucky one. My name sakes, Flight Sergeant Bruce Williams, dad’s first cousin and Flight Lieutenant Philip Cawthorne DFC , a friendship formed in training, were both bomber pilots killed in action over Europe. 

There were moreAustralianAircrew killed in action in Bomber Command in WWII than killed in action in both the AIF and the Royal Australian Navy.  

After the war these lucky ones formed the Odd Bods (UK) Association, as many were aircrew in BritishSquadrons and considered by the ‘Poms’ to be Odd Bods, marched on Anzac Day, held a reunion lunch and in the Anzac spirit helped each other in the adjustments to civilian life. 

The ‘Friends’ was formed in 2015, on the invitation of our fathers, to maintain these traditions… ‘ pressing on remembering’ and I was elected president as I missed the first meeting!....... 

I served in the RAAF Specialist Reserve as a surgeon from 2000 -2014 with deployments to Bougainville, East Timor and as a civilian to Banda Aceh, after the tsunami. 

There only a few of the original odd bods alive today. 

Today I would have been leading the march down St Kilda Road, Melbourne to the Shrine of Remembrance, behind the Odd Bods banner and acting as MC at our reunion lunch, but I will be there in the Anzac spirit! 

Lest we forget! 

Bruce P Waxman 

23 April 2023

Video link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/l0incbdj5fc5okl/IMG_0287.MOV?dl=0

Mike Oram ANZAC Ambassador

FOTOBAI member, Mike Oram, has been appointed the 2023 ANZAC Day Eve Ambassador for the Melbourne Football Club.

The AFL embrace the ANZAC round of matches as a feature of their yearly calendar with each match this weekend featuring an ANZAC component including the playing of the Last Post.

Wing Commander Mike Oram, Son of Odd Bod John Oram DFC, is an RAAF Pilot. His Father was a Lancaster Pilot during WW2, and awarded the DFC w/bar for gallantry.

Update To: A Dog, A Cemetery, And An Odd Bod's Act Of Bravery

 

Back in January we posted an article entitled "A Dog, A Cemetery, And An Odd Bod's Act Of Bravery". It featured Odd Bod Robert Baxter from Colac in Victoria. 

Robert received the George Medal for outstanding bravery when his aircraft landed back in UK after a German raid, and burst into flames. At great personal risk, Robert saved a crewmember from the blaze, but sadly, died in an aircraft crash shortly after, and is buried at Selby in the UK.

The story came from FOTOBAI member Bryan Wilcockson, who resides in Selby and is a regular correspondent. Bryan will be visiting Robert Baxter's grave on ANZAC Day 2023 in what he describes as a "nich ceremony" to honour the ANZAC Spirit.

The other part of our article concerned a dog named Sam who was a regular visitor to the Selby cemetery. Sam received a Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for his duty as he and his owner placed flowers on the RAF and RAAF aircrew war graves each year.

Yesterday we received this news from Bryan - "I am sad to report that LAC Sam, who received the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct medal at Selby Abbey in December, passed away early this morning in his owners arms. The ‘Gate Guardian’ of our commonwealth war graves will be sadly missed."

Vale Sam.

POSTSCRIPT: Sam has been cremated and his ashes taken to Pocklington Airfield near York.

ANZAC March Report 1955

 

One of the very earliest ANZAC Day marches that involved Odd Bods was in 1955, and we have an on the spot report from then Secretary Bruce "Tich" Marshall. Here it is - 

ODDS and ENDS – May 1955

Good Roll Up For 1955 ANZAC March

120 ODD BODs Form Ranks Behind New Banner

 

The 1955 ANZAC Day March in Melbourne was well patronized as over 120 Odd Bod’s came along to help swell the ranks of the R.A.A.F. Section of the march.

 The ODD BODS were led by our EL PRESIDENTE – Dave Beyer – complete with dog collar and gongs but no sword – (says he is non combatant type).

The front rank looked like a hardware store with all the gongs – and the banner held down by four of the heftiest members – namely Tom Rossiter, Syd Smith, Jack Beagley, and Les James.

 As the march moved along ST.Kilda Rd., Johnny Oram did a beautiful job of ON TRACK – ON TIME – MOST OF THE TIME, case of in the groove Jack?

 Several latecomers joined in – but next year we hope to have adequate publicity for this event.

 It was gratifying to see that we did not pull the same black that 78 Squadron boobed on when they gave an “Eyes Left” as they passed the Governor’s Stand. We just pressed on rapidly – as the usual Melbourne ANZAC Day rain came down.

 Dave Beyer’s navigating of the left wheel at the Shrine was perfect – Using H 2S Dave?

 The 1955 reunion was a great success both socially and financially – Our worthy Treasurer, Bob Way, has informed me that after paying all expenses incurred we have a credit balance in the bank to the tune of £20-2-4. Not bad for first time up.

 Our thanks are due to the good ladies who signed the necessary leave passes to enable the lads to attend – Incidentally the attendance was 42 – 39 members and 3 visitors – Next “do” we want 100% increase – so get those fingers out please.

Our lead photo is from the1955 reunion. That looks like Tom Rossiter in uniform holding the banner pole, and the more observant might note the spelling mistake on the banner. In the list of aircraft Stirling is spelt Sterling. Apparently that was corrected later.

ANZAC Day Arrangements 2023

Friends of the Odd Bods Association Inc. - ANZAC Day 2023

A Letter From Our President

Dear Friends,

               We are pleased to confirm arrangements for this year’s ANZAC Day reunion and our participation in the traditional march to the shrine.

               Our booking for the Amora Hotel in Richmond on Tuesday 25^th April has been confirmed, and you can now book your attendance. The cost will be $48 per head which is the same as last year.

Details of the Reunion Luncheon and an application form are available by clicking on the TAB at the top of this page (see above). We have nominated a closing date of 22nd April which will hopefully give veterans the flexibility they require as we get closer to ANZAC Day. Due to new vehicle restrictions, taxis and private vehicles will not be given access to the shrine precinct. March participants will need to make their own way to the reunion lunch.

At this year’s reunion we will be screening a selection of photographs from the Odd Bods archives including past ANZAC marches, reunions, special Odd Bods events, and of course, the veterans themselves. If you have photographs you would like to submit for the presentation, please email them to us or MMS from your mobile phone to Greg Smith on 0406222020.

Wesley College have confirmed that their ANZAC service will be held Thursday 27 April at 11.30am with a morning tea beforehand at 11.00am. The George V. Smith Award for the best student essay about the Spirit of ANZAC will be presented at that service.

We look forward to seeing you on Anzac Day and in the meantime if you have any queries please direct them to Peter Randell (0410271941), Gary Elliott (0418523974), or Greg Smith (0406222020).

 I will be absent for both events as I will be on a cruise between Darwin and Broome and but will lead a ‘march’ on board ship on Anzac Day.

Best Wishes

Bruce

Sqn Ldr Bruce P Waxman OAM RAAF (Rtd)

President

FRIENDS OF THE ODD BODS ASSOCIATION INC. 

23/3/2023

Odd Bods Support Students At Special School Dehradun India

Friends of the Odd Bods Continue An Odd Bods tradition of supporting students at a special needs school run by Ryder Cheshire in Dehradun, India.

We now provide financial report for four students and here are their latest reports. Our thanks to the staff at the Raphael School for keeping us informed of the progress of Sarthak, Ishan, Asma, and Abbas.

 

A Dog, A Cemetery, And An Odd Bod's Act Of Bravery

We get some wonderful stories from the UK and this one has all the elements of a best seller. Not only does it include a dog, a cemetery, and an Odd Bod, but the dog and the Odd Bod receive medals for service above and beyond.

Let's start with the dog. His name is Sam and apparently, throughout the year, he and his owner place flowers on the RAF and RAAF aircrew war graves at Selby a town on the river Ouse, just south of York in the UK. Their regular trips have not gone unnoticed, and although Sam is now too old to visit, he and his owner were asked to make one more trip so that Sam could be presented with a Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. 

The medal was presented at Selby Abbey which, according to our correspondent, is a similar sized church to the famous Westminster Abbey, and was built by William The Conquerer in 1069

Our correspondent goes on to say "Before you ask, it’s a Pommie thing to give a medal to a dog in an abbey. It’s what we do. It is our normal, because we Brits are all on the eccentric spectrum. Must be something to do with the wind and the rain." 

Whatever the eccentricity, this sounds like a perfectly wonderful practice.

And now to the Odd Bod - One of the graves that Sam and his owner visits to put flowers on is that of a certain Robert Wilson Baxter, from Colac in Victoria, and winner of the George Medal no less  (The George Medal is like a Victoria Cross, but for extreme heroism that’s not in the face of the enemy. They are about as common as hen’s teeth and only awarded for unbelievable acts of the utmost bravery). 

Baxter received his award as Pilot of a Wellington Bomber which, after a successful raid on Germany, landed back in the UK, but burst into flames. The crew escaped except for the Wireless Operator, and at great personal risk, Baxter re-entered the burning aircraft to secure the release of the trapped crewmember. 

Sadly Baxter was killed in an aircraft crash near Snaith on 7th August 1942, and is buried at Selby Cemetery.

Of course this is just one of many stories to come out of WW2. However linking the brave acts of wartime, with todays generations remembering those sacrifices, has particular relevance for an Association like ours.

NOTE: A big thank you to FOTOBAI member Bryan Wilcockson who lives in Selby, and has provided us with this story and many others over the years. As Bryan says, the connection between Selby and the Odd Bods is quite amazing, and we are most grateful for his ongoing contributions. 

Odd Bods Make Substantial Donation to Ryder Cheshire:

Friends of the Odd Bods have just made a substantial donation to Ryder Cheshire. In December a sum of A$2500 was donated which included funds directly allocated by members as part of the association’s annual subscription process.

Ryder Cheshire operate homes and clinics in India and Timor-Leste. We asked them if we could donate to a specific program of their choice and they nominated a special need for IT equipment at the Klibur Domin Centre in Timor-Leste. 

Klibur Domin is a centre based at Tibar, about 17km from the capital, Dili. It provides a variety of programs to help those in need in Timor-Leste. These programs include an Inpatient Program for those recovering from illnesses or injuries, a Community Based Rehabilitation Program which supports children and adults with disability and provides respite care and access to education, a Mobile TB team to diagnose and treat those with tuberculosis in the community, and a dental clinic to provide dental treatment and oral health education.

On 2/1/2023 Ryder Cheshire wrote – “Thank you again for this very generous donation which will assist our home in KD Timor-Leste in upgrading its systems and accounting packages, thereby improving the efficiency with which they can deliver health programs.”

Friends of the Odd Bods also sponsor 4 students at the Raphael Centre in Dehradun, India, at a cost of A$1200 annually, and continue the good work set up by Odd Bods over many decades.

"Pressing On.... Remembering"