Does anyone know if the report of the Court of Enquirey into the fall of Tobruk in June 1942 has ever been published ? I have been reading up on the events of the last month that led up to the fall of Tobruk, at which my grandfathers 107th LAA Battery were all captured. Its fascinating to read the various accounts from both the British and South African perspective. One of the best from a South African perspective "Avenge Tobruk" by E P Hartshorn, published in 1960, talks about the Court of Enquirey and how historians in the 1960's tried to gain permission to read the report but were denied. The British official history makes no mention of the Court or its findings. Later in his book E P Hartshorn relates a conversation he had in passing with General Maitland Wilson, who presided over the Court of Enquirey, who stated that the findings of the court were "lost a fortnight before it was attacked" exonerating General Klopper. Later in his book Hartshorn goes onto quote from a copy of the enquirey that he read in South Africa "The fact that Tobruk fell must undoubtedly be attributed to the eleventh-hour reversal of policy leading to the decision to hold the fortress" and "it was impossible in the time available to make adequate preparationsfor the completely new role imposed upon the Garrison, which up to then had only been concerned with prevention of raids by land, sea or air" I've tried googling, and searching the National Archives with out any success. Chris
Chris, have you had a look at the Files in CAB 106 ---564 ---570 ---620 ---748 .Though none are described as an enquiry CAB 44/421 is a War History Document regarding S/African Military History in the Western Desert. Brian
Found these as well:- WO106/2238A Fall of Tobruk WO106/2238B Fall of Tobruk WO201/238 Fall of Tobruk through enemies eyes WO201/690 Units captured at Tobruk CAB44/421 - Enquiry into fall of Tobruk PREM3/292/2 Prime Ministers Office. Enquiry into fall of Tobruk and 8th Army retreat.
There's a whole basketful, but the CAB Files are the most likely ones to contain anything such as an enquiry. They are Archivist and Librarian Files of the Historical Section of the Cabinet Office. I have read a few of these and copied CAB 106/717 for a Client studying the actions of the 67th Mdm. Regiment who fell back through the positions of the 68th Mdm.Regiment. Brian
This may interest you..I don't think it was published that long ago TOBRUKThe Great Siege 1941-2 - Naval & Military Press The previously obscure North African port of Tobruk became the focus of anguished attention in 1941 as the scene of a stubborn Allied defence against the German Afrika Korps that prove to be a major turning point of the whole war. The dogged defence of Tobruk turned into the longest siege in British military history as for over a year its isolated garrison held out against determined attempts to take it. Like Verdun in the Great War, Tobruk assumed a propaganda value for both sides outweighing even its great strategic significance. When Nazi Propaganda Minister Dr Josef Goebbels scorned its defenders as ‘Rats’, like the ‘Old Contemptibles’ of 1914 they turned the insult to advantage by adopting the nickname ‘Desert Rats’ as their own proud motto. When Tobruk finally fell to a massive armoured assault on 21st June 1942, 25,000 men surrendered and Churchill said it was the heaviest blow of the war......
On the link it says the siege lasted 242 days....Reading the above ref 'over a year' which is quoted from the same link I think it refers to the defence as well as the siege.
Brian and Robert Thanks there are a few files there that I hadn't spotted before. The NA search facilty is a fickle beast which I am still trying to understand. My list of files to look at during my next visit is getting longer and longer. Thanks Chris
This may interest you..I don't think it was published that long ago TOBRUKThe Great Siege 1941-2 - Naval & Military Press Andy Thanks, I've read the book, again no mention of the Court of Enquirey. Chris
Hi Chris Is there any way to find out if my Dad's regiment was in Tobruk at any time? He mentioned he was. thanks Robert
Hi Chris Is there any way to find out if my Dad's regiment was in Tobruk at any time? He mentioned he was. thanks Robert Robert Your best bet is to take a look at their War Diaries, these should list all the places they were based. The movement of a lot of units in North Africa was quite fluid at times. Chris
Hi Robert, Kew could help. WO 106/2171 Units in Tobruk during 1941 Seige. WO 201/690 List of Units captured at Tobruk (these may just be R.E.) Brian
I'm just reading a book by Anthony Heckstall-Smith, a Naval officer who was on the 'spud run', the supply of Tobruk by the RN and RAN, amongst others. He tried to access the CofE findings in 1959 +/-, but was refused on several occasions. I thought that, under the 30 year rule, surely it had to be published by now, so I Googled it and ended up here. Perhaps a Freedom of Information request to MoD may be in order? On a seperate note, my paternal Grandad was RA, 8th Army (I was his first grandchild, a male, and born on 23rd Oct so he was a bit made up), but I have no idea what battery or regiment. All I have are his medals, from WW1 and WW2, with his regt. no. on the rim of one of them. Any ideas where I could look for this info?
Welcome to the Forum Burnleywhite, I don't think it is so much as Files being witheld as Files being not being Identified. A one line description in the Catalogue does not tell a lot. The 30yr Rule would have probably have opened the File in 1975ish. So earlier requests would not have been granted. The F.O.I. act is not always the key to obtaining information as there are a few exceptions that can keep Files or sections of Files closed. AIR40/1877 is one that was closed for 75yrs but my request for opening a few months ago was agreed. There are still Several pages closed until 2024 that F.O.I. cannot open for me. Brian
Does anyone know if the report of the Court of Enquirey into the fall of Tobruk in June 1942 has ever been published ? I have been reading up on the events of the last month that led up to the fall of Tobruk, at which my grandfathers 107th LAA Battery were all captured. Its fascinating to read the various accounts from both the British and South African perspective. One of the best from a South African perspective "Avenge Tobruk" by E P Hartshorn, published in 1960, talks about the Court of Enquirey and how historians in the 1960's tried to gain permission to read the report but were denied. The British official history makes no mention of the Court or its findings. Later in his book E P Hartshorn relates a conversation he had in passing with General Maitland Wilson, who presided over the Court of Enquirey, who stated that the findings of the court were "lost a fortnight before it was attacked" exonerating General Klopper. Later in his book Hartshorn goes onto quote from a copy of the enquirey that he read in South Africa "The fact that Tobruk fell must undoubtedly be attributed to the eleventh-hour reversal of policy leading to the decision to hold the fortress" and "it was impossible in the time available to make adequate preparationsfor the completely new role imposed upon the Garrison, which up to then had only been concerned with prevention of raids by land, sea or air" I've tried googling, and searching the National Archives with out any success. Chris Chris, I have the South African Report on the action at Tobruk. Brian
Hello! Arriving late at this topic, does anyone have and can share the South African Report on the action at Tobruk, or the Tobruk Court of Enquiry? thanks -Nuno
There are some pages of the C of E report here. http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=198674 All the best Andreas
