Tobruk

The town and harbour of Tobruk after capture by Allied forces, 2 Australian Imperial force, 6th Australian Division and before the siege began. Less than two weeks after his appointment as an official war artist, Hele accompanied the 6th Division into the Libyan port of Tobruk. He made a number of pencil sketches and small oil studies of the town and port area to document what had been the Australians' greatest success to date. Hele was well clear of Tobruk when Rommel's advance cut off the 9th Division in the town, so beginning the siege of Tobruk. The painting was worked up from the sketches made in January 1941, as a tribute to the Australians, who, with British and Polish troops, held out until relieved in December.