Poland in Australia

On 4 October 2026, the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Sydney, Mr Piotr Rakowski, visited Mr Władysław “George” Krzysica, the last living “Rat of Tobruk” in Australia and a veteran of the battles of Tobruk and Monte Cassino. This meeting was also attended by Ms Krukowska-Alterman, President of the Federation of Polish Organisations in Queensland; Mr. Tkaczyk, vice-President of the Polish ex-Combatants Association in Australia; and dr. Alterman from the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Krzysica was 16 years old when the Second World War broke out and is now over 100 years old. When he was a young soldier, he travelled through Romania, Iraq and the Middle East before joining the Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade. In 1941, he fought with Australian troops and other Allied soldiers during the siege of Tobruk. At the time, the soldiers were referred as “rats” by Nazi propaganda in an attempt to humiliate and ridicule them. Instead, they son adopted the term themselves as a badge of honour and a source of pride. After the war, with the help of Australian soldiers, Mr Krzysica, like many other members of the Carpathian Brigade, settled in Australia. The meeting provided an opportunity to talk about his wartime experiences and post-war life, as well as the close ties between Poland and Australia.

The visit was also an opportunity to express gratitude for Mr Krzysica’s service in the Second World War. The conversation highlighted the importance of preserving the memory of Polish veterans in Australia and passing their stories on to the younger generations. During the visit, Mr Krzysica was also presented with an artwork created by 15-year old Jakub Kościański, a student at a Polish school in Sydney. The artwork has been created for a competition organised by the Consulate to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the siege of Tobruk.

More information about this Hero is available at the following link: https://www.tygodnik-polski.com.au/andrzej-balcerzak-ostatni-szczur-tobruku/