"Australian Forces in North Africa during the Second World War" The 'Rats of Tobruk' - some of the 15,000 men of General Morshead's 9th Australian Division shelter in caves during an air raid during the siege of Tobruk. After six months besieged in the vital supply port the Australians were evacuated by sea and relieved by fresh troops. 823 men had been killed, 2214 wounded and 700 captured.