A Picture Book

For The Rats

It’s taken 25 years to produce a complete picture record of the siege of Tobruk, but it has been worth waiting for. In The Rats Remain, historian Dr. John Cumpston has produced a volume which every surviving Tobruk rat will want on his shelf at whatever cost —and at $6 for 500 historic pictures on excellent paper they will get fine value.

Dr. CUMPSTON, a former Aus tralian consul in Noumea, is these days historian with the De partment of External Affairs, Can berra. His interest in Tobruk dates from the time he was there as liaison officer with the headquarters of the 26th Australian Infantry Brigade.

He has painstakingly collected photographs from every source to illustrate better than words the drama of a Tobruk besieged by Rommel’s forces in 1941.

With rare exceptions, only photo graphs taken during the siege itself

have been used. In the absence of official war photographers on occasions, especially in the early days of the siege, many of the prints were taken by amateurs displaying a wide range of competence. Film was un obtainable. Dr. Cumpston found in his search that information about the subject matter of pictures was mostly scanty and incorrect. But the amateur snapshots recall the drama. ‘Three features are noticeable throughout the pictures,” says Dr.

Cumpston. “These are the great amount of destruction of military equipment that the Italians were able to achieve before surrender in Tobruk; the number of smokers with unlit pipes; and the apparent indif ference of the men to any action not taking place in their immediate vicinity.”

After 25 years, memories are fad ing. Some of the record has gone beyond recall, and other verification, such as the names of many of the men in the pictures, has become dif ficult. Dr. Cumpston, in his labour of love, has invited Tobruk rats to supply to the Australian War Memorial any additional details which the publication of the pictures may release from the halls of memory.

They will be varied no doubt. —SI.

(The Rates Remain: The Siege Of

TOBRUK 1941. Grayflower Productions Pty. Ltd., Melbourne. $6.)