Aussie Troops laying wreaths on the Graves of Allied Troops.
(scanned by HOSS Bandit)

Honor and Respect

Italian-made Carro Armato M11/39 tanks, captured by the Australians at Bardia and used by them in the subsequent capture of Tobruk (the Kangaroo emblem is a bit of a giveaway).  These tanks were pretty useless.  They were reasonably mobile; and their hull-mounted main armament of a (British Vickers pattern) 37mm L/40 gun was no worse than many for 1940/'41 (though that was not saying much).  On the other hand, the thin, rivetted armour was totally inadequate, making them something of a death-trap for their crews.  These vehicles were, in consequence, little use by anybody (Australian or Italian) after the early part of 1941.  Best regards, JR.

"Australian" armour (courtesy of Il Duce).

Australian soldiers disembark an American LST after securing beachheads at Lae on the drive to oust occupying Japanese from the area. Lae, Papua New Guinea,September 1943(rudeerude)