Thomas Pritchard was one of an outnumbered garrison who defied the Nazi war machine in a seven-month siege.
"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.Thomas Pritchard, the last Australian Rat of Tobruk, has died aged 102.
The association said that, per Pritchard's request, he would be farewelled at a private family funeral. The Rats of Tobruk were an Allied garrison of about 26,000, including the aforementioned 14,000 Australians, commanded by Australian Lieutenant-General Leslie Morehead. Under the leadership of prominent Nazi general Erwin Rommel, the "Desert Fox", the Africa Korps until now had never known defeat.
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