Tobruk: a criticism.

Tobruk is the Libyan port made famous during the Second World War through its capture and later defence by the 2nd Australian Imperial Force. It is also the title of the 'best selling' book that Peter FitzSimons has written about those events a book that prompts this article. (1)

But this is not a review! There is no point to that for FitzSimons admits in his introduction that he has used 'poetic licence' to achieve 'a good yam'. Even if you skipped reading that in the introduction, you would still quickly realize that he is prepared to go to considerable lengths to achieve dramatic effectas early as page 3 he gives this account of the landing at Anzac: 'On 25 April no fewer than 17,000 Anzacs hit the beach all at once.' Still, despite devoting much space to irrelevant matters, the book has been voted 'a good read', and it does considerable service in reaching thousands of Australians who wouldn't buy a normal military history book.

Why then the criticism? Because, in the first place, I feel that I have been demeaned. The foul language that FitzSimons uses to represent the speech of that generation of soldiers is quite appalling. I was a private for a year before becoming an NCO and finally being commissioned in the 2nd AIF, and I didn't speak like that! Neither did my mates one of whom was an illiterate drover from western NSW! The army actually sought to improve language and I can recall my platoon being told by its platoon sergeant (Sergeant Silver, a Great War veteran) to stop using the relatively mild 'bloody'. It is laughable to suggest that officers would use foul languagetheir commanding officers would not have tolerated it. To write that Lieutenant Mackell's after action report to his CO (Lieutenant Colonel Crawford, a fastidious disciplinarian) was: 'We've been into 'ern and they're running like f....g bunnies' demeans Mackell and the standards and operating procedures of the 2/17th Battalion. FitzSimons says his father was in the 9'11 Division but I will never be convinced that he spoke as described.

It concerns me also that FitzSimons has focused on the 'common soldier' (his words), and others don't emerge as well as they deserve. The 2/17th Battalion's Easter Battle receives only 30 pages out of 524, and there is no mention that, in addition to Edmondson's Victoria Cross, four others were decorated for the battle, including Austin Mackell who, in my judgement, deserved more than the Military Cross he received. His citation refers to his having 'inspired' his men and to his 'remarkable gallantry', 'brilliant leadership', and his 'care of his men' a characteristic so much appreciated by his platoon that he was affectionately referred to as 'Mummy'. So much for Mrs Edmondson's diary entry that her impression of Mackell was of his being 'very light and flippant'. (I found the repetitious breaks in the story, to involve Mrs Edmondson, quite tedious). Having regard to the enemy's overwhelming strength Mackell was under no compulsion to reach his aggressive plan, nor, in command terms, to personally lead the attack. As evidenced by the outcome his decisions were brilliant and gallant to an outstanding degree.

Another criticism is of FitzSimons' writing about the 2/17th Battalion whilst ignoring the fount of knowledge concerning the battalion, my dear friend Major General J R Broadbent, a former president of the RUSI and past president of the Law Society of NSW. JRB joined the 2/17th on the first day of its existence and, he, with his adjutant, were the only men still there on the battalion's last day; he was the first 2IC of Mackell's and Edmondson's company; he was the battalion's battle 2IC during the Battle of El Alamein and, with his CO ill, he ran the battalion; and he commanded the battalion in Queensland and for its last (Borneo) campaign. The omission tends to reinforce that Australian officers have little place in Fitzsimons' racey narrative.

As so much has been written about Edmondson some description of Mackell is justified.

Austin Mackell was a student at Parramatta Boys' High School when his father died. He had achieved seven A passes at the Intermediate Certificate Examination and was looking forward to a professional career; however he chose to take a menial job to support his mother and to enable his sisters to complete their education. He rose in his employment to be the organisation's country sales manager in NSW whilst achieving a commission in the militia (the 4th Battalion), he transferred from that battalion to the 2/17th. When, well into the war, battle seasoned officers were transferred from AIF to militia battalions Mackell was returned to the 4th. His performance was such that he was seconded, first to General Blamey's staff and then to the British War Office in London.

On discharge from the AIF he successfully established in Australia and New Zealand the business of Scott and Baume, industrial chemists; at the same time he acquired an economics degree and commanded the Sydney University Regiment. He was appointed an Officer in the Order of the British Empire.

Sadly, some members of the Edmondson family never forgave Austin for having given the order which indirectly led to John Edmondson's death. Even sadder, accidents caused the deaths of two of Mackell's sons and, in 1965, of himself.

In September 2006 the Second World War's remaining Victoria Cross holder, Ned Kenna, was in Canberra to join his 2/4th Battalion mates at a service at the War Memorial. I had to tell them that those who were killed in the battalion's battle of Wadi Derna must have died from natural causes, for according to FitzSimons (p.144)' [The] Ities had given up the important town of Derma without a fight'.

(1) Peter FitzSimons. Tobruk, Harper Collins, 580 pp., $49.99.