Cairns Family History was recently alerted to the existence of a very comprehensive Rats of Tobruk Tribute website, produced by ex-serviceman Owen Carlton as an element of his Rats of Tobruk Project of 10 years: finding and researching our famous Rats of Tobruk.
Owen says that this is the original and only tribute website in the world for our Allied Rats of Tobruk and it displays the Honour Roll of Allied Forces (Australian, UK and Polish) who served in Tobruk, Libya, during the Siege of Tobruk, for 241 days between April 10 to December 7, 1941.
The Honour Roll records are held in Owen’s National ROT database of 18,848 records. Check the detailed rolls for your family names.
Owen’s Uncle, QX1733 Carlton, Eric Noel of 2/15 Battalion was a Rat of Tobruk so Owen was privileged to have known quite a number of Rats of Tobruk in the past 10 years.
As an Ex Serviceman himself, Owen has a close affiliation with these fine men, and he acknowledges and appreciates what they did for their Country, in the darkest hours and time of need, with many of them having paid the supreme sacrifice.
Owen is also involved with two ROT Facebook groups:
Owen’s purpose for developing his National ROT Database and subsequent publication of records on his associated ROT Tribute website, is to allow the basic details of the famous RATS of TOBRUK to be viewed by their descendants, relatives and other interested friends and researchers of the RATS of Tobruk.
In addition to Aussie Rats of Tobruk, allied troops such as UK, Indian, Polish and Czech service personnel, who served at Tobruk during the siege period, are in many cases also listed.
The website includes the history of the Rats of Tobruk, timelines, maps, tributes, slideshows, videos, interviews, military abbreviations, stories, poetry, news, honour rolls, award recipients, POWs, and more.
Owen is happy to respond to enquiries regarding any existing records or to update records or add new records. Please contact Owen Carlton at ocar23@iinet.net.au. And if you find records for your relatives, consider emailing Owen a message of thanks!
Owen Carlton
A Proud Aussie Nasho
Ex ROTA Inc.
ratsoftobruktribute.com
I would like to point out that my number of records have increased to 21,376, as of 5/2/21. I also put in a word for the New Association that has recently been created, for Descendants and Relatives of Rats of Tobruk. This New Association, has really taken off since it began early in 2018. We are seeking Descendants and Relatives to join us in this New Association ( Descendants of the Rats of Tobruk Australia Association Inc (DOTROTA) along with its Facebook Group. Interested persons may contact Betty Murphy (dotrota41@gmail.com). We are very busy organising for the 80th Anniversary World Re-Union, to be held in Cleveland, Brisbane, over the dates of 8th, 9th and 10th of April, 2021. Thank You, Owen Carlton.