Digger dies on Tobruk pilgramage

[Antipodean Andy]

May he rest in peace with our thanks.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...-29277,00.html

A COMMEMORATIVE trip to Egypt by a group of Australian diggers who formed the legendary Rats of Tobruk has been marred by the death of one of their leaders.

Ray Widdows, who headed the Rats of Tobruk Association's NSW branch, died after suffering a sudden heart attack while the group of about 16 surviving "Rats" and their families were visiting El Alamein.

His death last Tuesday coincided with the 65th anniversary of the start of the final battle of El Alamein, one of World War II's most notorious battles in which the "Rats" played a major role in helping Allied forces defeat Nazi troops.

Mr Widdows, who received a medal in the general division (OAM) in this year's Australia Day honours, had helped organise the trip for the surviving "Rats" back to northern Egypt so they could mark the battle's anniversary.

After a day visiting the Rats of Tobruk memorial at the El Alamein War Cemetery, they had shared a few beers at their hotel in Mersah Matruh before Mr Widdows, 89, suffered a heart attack in his room and died.

While shocked by the Sydneysider's death, the diggers have continued their trip and flown to London, where they will attend a service on Wednesday to mark the final battle of El Alamein and pay tribute to Mr Widdows.

Lady Avril Randell, who helped organise the London leg of the group's visit, described Mr Widdows as a digger who was "larger than life".

"The fact that Ray died on 23rd October, the very anniversary of El Alamein and whilst in Alamein has left everyone distraught," she said.

"It came as such a shock because there wasn't the vaguest hint of ill health.

"The world will never see his kind again."

Members of the Australian 9th Division were dubbed "rats" by Nazi commanders for their tenacious defence of Tobruk in 1941.

The division then went on, the following year, to play a major role in defeating the Germans during the second battle of El Alamein.

The battle, which stretched from October 23 to November 5 1942, marked a major turning point for the Allies in their western desert campaign and ended the Nazis' hopes of occupying Egypt.

[spidge]

Sad to see him go 67 years ago to the day not far where he and his division were an integral part of that route of the axis forces.

All of my dad's mates who were in the 9th all passed away over 20 years ago.

Rest in Peace