The Rats of Tobruk were soldiers of the Australian-led Allied garrison that held the Libyan port of Tobruk against the Afrika Corps, during the Siege of Tobruk in World War II. The siege started on 11 April 1941 and was relieved on 10 December. The port continued to be held by the Allies until its surrender on 21 June 1942. HUTCHINS, Mervyn Arthur Thomas VX27912 Born in Mornington, Victoria, October 1906, Mervyn joined the Australian Armed Forces in Caulfield in June 1940. Mervyn was posted with the 2/23rd Battalion and was sent to Tobruk. He died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in the 1970'sMervyn Hutchins owned this jacket. He was both a RAT of Toburk and a patient at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.Navy blue woolen jacket pocket with embroideryLarge letter T with red crown. Overlay of the RATS of Tobruk logo with Victoria embroidered across the bottomrats of tobruk, wwii, world war two, second world war, uniforms, mervyn hutchins collection

HUTCHINS, Mervyn Arthur Thomas VX27912 Born in Mornington, Victoria, October 1906, Mervyn joined the Australian Armed Forces in Caulfield in June 1940. Mervyn was posted with the 2/23rd Battalion and was sent to Tobruk. He died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in the 1970's.This photograph depicts a typical soldier portrait of WWII. Mervyn was a patient and died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.Replica sepia toned portrait photograph of WWII soldier Mervyn Hutchins. mervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, heidelberg repatriation hospital, caulfield, 2/23rd battalion, vx27912

HUTCHINS, Mervyn Arthur Thomas VX27912 Born in Mornington, Victoria, October 1906, Mervyn joined the Australian Armed Forces in Caulfield in June 1940. Mervyn was posted with the 2/23rd Battalion and was sent to Tobruk. He died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in the 1970's.Mervyn Thomas was a patient at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital Four medals with ribbons. Star (.1), Star (.2), Silver (.3), Silver (.4) awarded to Mervyn Hutchins56.1 Front Crown Emblem. GRJ / VI / The 1939 - 1945 STAR 5.1 Back VX27912 M.A.T. HUTCHINS 56.2 Front Crown Emblem. GRJ / VI / The AFRICA STAR Back VX27912 M.A.T. HUTCHINS 56.3 Bare head effigy King George VI facing left. GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP. Back shows the Royal Crown resting on an oak sapling, flanked by a lion and a lioness above waves. At the top left is the year "1939" and at the top right the year "1945". The exergue has the words "THE DEFENCE MEDAL" in two lines. 56.4 Front crowned effigy of King George VI, facing left and signed "PM" below neck. Around the perimeter is the legend "GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP:" Back The reverse shows a lion standing wanton on the body of a double-headed dragon. Top right are the years "1939" and "1945" in two lines. "ECRP" near the rim at the nine o'clock positionmervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, heidelberg repatriation hospital, caulfield, 2/23rd battalion, vx27912, 1939-1945 star, star of africa, defence medal, war medal, wwii

These medallions, which belonged to Mervyn Thomas, were given in celebration of the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Coronation authorities in the United Kingdom decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of the Commonwealth countries and Crown dependencies and other possessions of the Crown. The award of the medals was then at the discretion of the government of each territory, which was left free to decide who was to be awarded a medal and why. This medallion is specific to the town of Castlemaine in Victoria which is noted on the Service Record of Mervyn Thomas.Two matching circular medallions with wire at top.Front: THE TOWN OF CASTLEMAINE / VIS NON TERRA SEO DEU EST Back: Effigy of Queen Elizabeth with crown facing right. Border reads: CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II / 2ND JUNE 1953mervyn hutchins collection, queen elizabeth ii, coronation, 1953, castlemaine

This items identify Mervyn Hutchins war experience. Mervyn served in the 2/23rd Battalion, was sent to Tobruk and was a patient at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.Ring "TOBRUK", tie pin and button with pin fastenermervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, 2/23rd battalion, tobruk ring

These items were made as part of an occupational therapy group at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital post WWII. Two matching stuffed toy bears in cream coloured lambswool, with button eyes, handsewn. One smalller than the other.mervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, heidelberg repatriation hospital, occupational therapy