Also they lived in very dirty conditions and were always dirty and muddy like a rat. The famous story of the rats of tobruk and the ships that supplied them in ww2, as told by the rats themselves. Thanks to the generosity of the rights holders, we are able to offer a lash at the enemy from the feature film the rats of tobruk as a high quality video download. The rats of tobruk may not be charles chauvels best movie, but it deserves serious consideration as his best movie about war which is to argue that it is in some ways superior to his more famous and betterloved forty thousand horsemen 1940, made four years earlier. Fully restored and presented in a brand new transfer, the rats of tobruk is a rousing tribute to the many brave the soldiers who served their nation. The rats of tobruk is certainly a work of propaganda, and chauvel could never have secured funding and permission for anything else in 1943, but its also a film that tries to tell some truths about the war. Their early silent films, moth of moonbi and greenhide, were both set entirely in queensland, while their later films, heritage and rats of tobruk included. As in many war movies, the camaraderie of the men is stressed. Although he travelled with family, it would have been a lonely trip from his. Laid 21st october 1995 jointly by rats of tobruk association snd five dock r. The rats of tobruk controlling north africa would give the allied forces a base from which to attack occupied europe, across the mediterranean. The film didnt do the same business as chauvels forty thousand horsemen it.
The rats of tobruk 1944 clip 1 on aso australianscreen. Rats of tobruk home tribute is a tribute to the rats of tobruk, who fought in tobruk, during the siege of tobruk, of 241 days from april 10 to december 1941. The spirit and tone are more rueful than four years earlier, and far less romantic. Available on dvd through au following on the great tradition of forty thousand horsemen, charles chauvels 1944. The film was written by leo gordon who also acted in the film and released through universal pictures. Phillip noyce to direct wwii drama rats of tobruk deadline. The german afrika corps under the command of general erwin rommel had commenced the offensive which drove the british forces eastwards across the desert to the egyptian frontier. Remembering the rats of tobruk harry ross sutherland, from the 18th brigade of the australian 7th division, recounts his experience while deployed in the libyan port of tobruk in 1941.
Is there a list of persons who are rats of tobruk answers. Italy a german ally had occupied libya, right next to egypt where the british were heavily ensconced. See the full list of the rats of tobruk cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. Aug 18, 2016 also featuring george wallace and joe valli, chauvels bold tale of war gives life to the many heroic tales of mateship during wwii. The rats of tobruk hold an identifiable place within the ranks of returned servicemen, particularly in australia, where there is the rats of tobruk memorial, canberra on 22 march 1944, the original members of the rats of tobruk formed the north bondi subbranch of the returned and services league of australia and it is still known in modern times as tobruk house or the rathouse. It also does a far better job of telling the story about the legendary rats of tobruk then the later richard burton movie the desert rats although a good film. Summarybetween april and august 1941, over 14,000 soldiers now given the.
The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii the siege started on 10 april 1941. Watch the fighting rats of tobruk full free by lynn m. The rats of tobruk, featuring memorial historian dr karl james discussing the exhibition rats of tobruk 1941. Grant taylor bluey donkin, peter finch peter linton, chips rafferty milo trent, pauline garrick kate carmody, mary gay sister mary ellis, george wallace barber of tobruk, joe valli northumberland fusilier. Rats of tobruk war memorial, five dock nsw war memorials. However, after the completion of his schooling, he chose to study commercial art. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest wartime. Peter linton, an english writer in australia to study the land.
Operation crusader was launched on november 18 to december 30 to achieve what battle axe failed to do. It was also the first australian feature film to be exhibited at the cannes film. This short film features memorial historian dr karl james discussing the exhibition rats of tobruk 1941. Riverina rats of tobruk honour roll nsw war memorials register. Rats of tobruk memorial pipes and drums home facebook. Tells the story of three menbluey, a tough two fisted drover taylor, milo, a laconic dingo trapper rafferty, and pete, an intellectual english new chum finch. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest wartime legendsthe rats of tobruk. Extra features the big picture featurette on charles chauvel, his wife elsa, the films and their importance in australian film history 74 mins trailer.
Photograph dated 5 september 1941 showing guards at 9th division rear hq at tobruk negative by frank hurley. Meet queenslands last rat of tobruk queensland times. May 18, 2011 this short film features memorial historian dr karl james discussing the exhibition rats of tobruk 1941. They were called the rats of tobruk as there attitude and the way the australians fought made them live like rats and they scurried around the war collecting food and weapons stealthily which made them seem like rats.
My rot website is now near completion and contains some,500 records of rats of tobruk for aussie, uk and polish veterans and fallen. He was probably the most important australian feature film director from the 1930s to the 1950s and, with his wife and cowriter, elsa is responsible for several bonafide australian classics including in the wake of the bounty 1933, 40,000 horsemen 1941, and jedda 1955 the first colour film made in australia and the first to cast. The siege started on 10 april 1941 and was finally relieved at the end of november. The australian soldiers go the nickname the rats of tobruk because of their endurance. Members of the 2th battalion on patrol along the antitank ditch. Queenslands last rat of tobruk vernon hansen was in canberra yesterday to mark the 75th anniversary of the siege.
The rats of tobruk the fighting rats of tobruk 2015. The siege of tobruk took place in the western desert of north africa in 1941 at the height of the second world war. Siege of tobruk the siege of tobruk took place in the western desert of north africa in 1941 at the height of the second world war. Identifying with authority, they obeyed rather than thought. An abridged version was released in the united states in 1951 as the fighting rats of. An abridged version was released in the united states in 1951 as the fighting rats of tobruk.
The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers of the garrison who held the libyan port against a germanitalian army commanded by gen. Between april and august 1941, some 35,000 allies, including around 14,000 australian soldiers, were. The garrison, commanded by lieutenant general leslie morshead, consisted of the 9th australian division 20th, 24th, and 26th brigades, the 18th brigade of the 7th australian division, four. I believe there should be more movies about the efforts of the aussie soldier in wwii and the great job that they did. This site is dedicated to those who fought at tobruk. Richard burton did a fine hollywood based film, desert rats, about the same siege at tobruk and chips rafferty had a featured role in that.
Albert donald was a member of alex dutharts drum corps with dalziel highlanders winning the world championship drumming title in 1953 and also played with shotts before moving to australia. Horsemen is a more entertaining and better constructed film, fully deserving of its place in the australian pantheon. This column is a replica of the memorial situated in the war cemetery at tobruk and is dedicated to those who served and those who died during the epic siege. The germans called them the rats of tobruk always digging in the ground and urged them to come out and fight. The rats of tobruk 1944 letterboxd social film discovery. Queensland business leaders hall of fame charles chauvel.
Barber of tobruk george wallace 4 director charles chauvel. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers of the garrison who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers of the garrison who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps during the siege. Riverina rats of tobruk honour roll nsw war memorials. German radio started calling the australians poor desert rats of tobruk, which they took immense pride in, calling themselves the rats of tobruk. The film follows three drover friends who enlist in the australian army together during world war ii.
The rats of tobruk, a name adopted by australian soldiers who were at the siege of tobruk. The memorial commemorates those who served at tobruk during world war two. Major film about the rats of tobruk to be produced in canberra. He joined the rats of tobruk in 2008 his first pipe band after meeting the drum corps when they played at his uncle albert donalds funeral service. May 12, 2012 the famous story of the rats of tobruk and the ships that supplied them in ww2, as told by the rats themselves. With grant taylor, peter finch, chips rafferty, pauline garrick. Captured italian armato m40 far left and m19 middle and right tanks being used by the australian 6th division cavalry regiment during the capture of tobruk in january 1941.
The rats of tobruk simple english wikipedia, the free. The 1941 siege of tobruk, birth of the rats of tobruk. Their story is based on the siege of the libyan city of tobruk in north africa by rommels afrika korps. They were called rats, a term that the australian soldiers embraced as an ironic compliment. The rats of tobruk memorial pipes and drums was formed in 1960 as a living memorial to the military units involved in the siege of tobruk of. On 22 january 1941, a joint force of british, australian, and indian troops captured the libyan port city of tobruk making it the only alliedheld city in axiscontrolled territory. Awm007494 some of australias first major battles of the second world war were the actions and campaigns fought in the middle east and the mediterranean, where the. May 17, 2015 the memorial commemorates those who served at tobruk during world war two. Australian vaudeville performers in film australian variety theatre. I give this film such a high rating because it is one of only a handful of movies that tell the tale of the diggers at war.
The troops were later the subject of the film the rats of tobruk. The defenders, nicknamed the rats of tobruk, would hold out for eight months. It ended in a stalemate, and it cost rommel 33,000 men and most of his tanks. The guide below is intended to help understand how films are formatted for your tv depending upon your tv type, and in some cases, how much of a movie you are missing without letterboxing.
Australian troops of the australian 9th division and the 18th brigade of the australian 7th division under lieutenant general leslie morshead made up more than. The records on my rot website are taken from my national. Curators notes the rats of tobruk 1944 on aso australia. They are brittle treasures, the last living souls of the 15,000 rawboned young australians who defied the odds to fend off rommels afrika korps and become known as the rats of tobruk. Rats of tobruk reserve rats of tobruk reserve is a reserve in victoria and has an elevation of 9 meters. The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 the fighting rats of. Men of the 24th infantry brigade after their voyage from tobruk. Frank miller the rats of tobruk 1944, as peter linton red sky at. On return home the soldiers formed the rats of tobruk association. The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Rats are one of the most prominent survivors on earth and the soldiers acted the same.
Tobruk is a 1967 american technicolor drama war film directed by arthur hiller and starring rock hudson and george peppard. Australian troops of the australian 9th division and the 18th brigade of the australian 7th division under lieutenant general leslie. Charles chavel is a legend in australian cinema history. Rats of tobruk reserve is situated in albert park, close to albert park primary school. Of course the production values were much superior, still the rats of tobruk shows a lot of care about the australian fighting man and his contribution in world war ii from the folks they were defending. The rats of tobruk were soldiers of the australianled allied garrison that held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii. Watch rats of tobruk online vimeo on demand on vimeo. The rats of tobruk is a 1944 australian film directed by charles chauvel. Adolf hitler had prepared for war by socially engineering his followers into the perfect fighting machines. There were also major oil fields in the middle east that were vital to fuel their tanks, planes and motorised transport.
Following on the great tradition of forty thousand horsemen, charles chauvels 1944 cinematic account of the battle of rommel. An interesting aussie film about three mates who join the army together and end up fighting the afrika korp at tobruk. To play the downloadable video, you need quicktime 7. This was an adf pr video extolling the values of the australian defence forces. Rats of tobruk a classic australian world war ii film.
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