The last Rat of Tobruk is at rest.
On behalf of the Federal Coalition, we acknowledge the life and legacy of Tom Pritchard – a truly great Australian who was part of the Greatest Generation.
Tom Pritchard was among those Anzacs who prevented German Field Marshal Rommel from recapturing the Libyan port of Tobruk in 1941.
He was among those Australians who survived eight months of daily bombings and tank attacks from German and Italian forces.
German propaganda mocked the Allied soldiers, comparing them to trapped rats. But those brave men embraced the slur with pride – ‘The Rats of Tobruk’ becoming a nickname that exemplified their fortitude in the face of extremis.
For a man who knew the horrors of war, Tom was one not to talk about his experiences.
But we must never forget what Tom and those like him did.
Our country today is neither the result of luck nor natural occurrence. It has been forged, fought for, and defended by those before us.
We are the beneficiaries of the service, suffering, and sacrifice of soldiers like Tom Pritchard.
We commit Tom to our memory, so we do not forget our duty as custodians of their legacy.
Lest we forget.
6 August 2024