Last Australian 'Rat of Tobruk' dies age 102
Thomas Pritchard, Australia's last "Rat of Tobruk" has passed away at the age of 102.
Pritchard was part of the famous garrison who held the eponymous Libyan port against a furious Nazi siege in World War II.
The Rats of Tobruk Association announced Pritchard's death on Saturday, honouring his service to his country.
"Tommy was a stalwart member of our association and a most humble veteran, having served with the 2/5th field ambulance throughout the Middle East and the South West Pacific," the association wrote in a post.
"We as an Association are extremely grateful to have had Tommy for so long yet we mourn his loss and the last direct linkage with some 14,000 Australian servicemen who served in Tobruk."
The post added that Pritchard would be farewelled in a private family funeral, as was Tommy's wishes.
However, they added that a public memorial for all Rats of Tobruk will take place in Melbourne, with the date yet to be confirmed.
The Rats of Tobruk were an Allied garrison of about 26,000 soldiers, including 14,000 Australians, commanded by Australian Lieutenant-General Leslie Morehead.
They were besieged by the Nazi Afrika Korps, comprised of German and Italian troops, from April 10th to November 27th 1941.
The Africa Korps, under the leadership of Nazi general Erwin Rommel, had never known defeat, until he faced the Rats for 231 days, who denied Rommel a port on the Libyan coast as the Nazis were unable to take control of Tobruk.
The nickname came from American-born Nazi propagandist William Joyce, who, when he heard the Allied soldiers were taking cover in the pre-existing below-ground defences of the city, derided them as living like "rats".
However, Aussies took the nickname with pride as they celebrated their victory.
Image credits: Rats of Tobruk Association