Seeing the last Australians off from Tobruk

Supply operations for Tobruk continued in August 1941. More petrol and supplies were carried into Tobruk. We have already mentioned operation Treacle involved a cruiser covering force, two fast minelayers, and the usual destroyers. They had transported some six thousand men into Tobruk and removed about 5,500 men. Septembere saw the important operation named Supercharge. Supercharge also included a cruiser covering force and a larger RAF fighter force. The actual numbers of men carried into Tobruk were 6,308. They removed 5,988 men, including 544 wounded. The ships carried in more petrol andd supplies. They also brought 29 tanks to add to the tank force. One last operation named Cultivate received more unwanted attention from the enemy. The last night of Cultivate saw the fast minelayer Latona sunk and the destroyer Hero damaged. Larger numbers of men were moved both in and out. Some 7,138 men were carried into Tobruk and 7,234 were removed. The naval force lost heavily in the process. Ships, including the petrol carrier, Pass of Balmaha, and others were sunk and more were damaged.
The Inshore Squadron was involved in the last operation to remove Australians from Tobruk, starting on 13 November 1941. The only Australian unit left in Tobruk was the 2/13th Battalion. In operations involving ships near Tobruk, from 11 April until 9 December 1941, 26 navy ships and 5 merchant ships were lost. Another four navy ships and four merchant ships were damaged. Australian destroyers were involved in the runs to Tobruk and back. Two Australian sloops were also involved with the Parramatta being lost.
The last Australians at Tobruk, the 2/13th Battalion were witness to a heavy dust storm. The Durham Light Infantry managed to provide breakfast to the Australians. It turns out that there were also two companies from the 2/15th Battalion left, as well. They were located near Fort Pilastrano. The Australian brigade commander, Brigadier Murray met with General Scobie to talk about what they would do with the remaining Australians. The Australians had turned over all their equipment, except what they personally carried. The new plan  was for them to use equipment that had been intended for use by the Polish Officers Legion. There was work to be done to plan where to go and how they would move into place. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Australian Official History