Historical information

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's

Significance

Mervyn Hutchins owned this jacket. He was both a RAT of Toburk and a patient at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.

Physical description

Navy blue woolen jacket pocket with embroidery

Inscriptions & markings

Large letter T with red crown. Overlay of the RATS of Tobruk logo with Victoria embroidered across the bottom