Watch List notes:

Group of Six to Rat of Tobruk taken POW at El Alamein: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Tobruk Siege 1941 Medal. WX7524 A.K.McLennan on first five medals, A.McLennan on last medal. The first five medals impressed, the last medal engraved. All ribbons with tape stains, the last medal with spotting, otherwise good very fine.

Ex Downies Australian Coin Auctions #312 (lot 23), 30 Oct 2012.

Together with fibre compound dog tags on leather neck cord, one circular and one hexagonal, both impressed, 'WX7524/AK Mc Lennan/CE' and on the reverse, '04'; Australia metal title in oxidised bronze; Soldier's Record Of Service Book (in damaged leather cover but has been glued and back cover has been damaged); Certificate of Discharge dated 8 Sep 1945; RSL badges (3), all three figure type, reverse numbered 1342, Z5117 and WB14404; The Rats of Tobruk Association badges (2, both KC and one with QC overlay LS, the first numbered F405, the second 426); The Rats of Tobruk Association large badge (KC), reverse numbered 20784; The Rats of Tobruk Association Ladies' Auxiliary badge (KC with QC overlay LS), reverse numbered WA98; The Rats of Tobruk Association (KC) pair of cufflinks; Alan McLennan name tag with Rats of Tobruk yellow and black colours; stick pin with enamelled 2/28 Bn Tobruk colour patch; stick-pin for Kitchener Park, W.A. (Bowling Club).

Alan Keith McLennan, boat builder, age 24, born at Beaconsfield, WA; Enl.06Aug1940 at Recruit Reception Depot, Claremont, WA in General Reinforcements; to 2/28Bn 08Aug1940; Emb.03Jan1941 and rank of Cpl confirmed; to 4AGH with pyrexia 19Jun1941; rejoined unit 05Jul1941; to 4AGH with diarrhoea 16Aug1941; rejoined unit 03Sep1941; to Physical & Recreational Training School No.14 Course 20Oct1941; rejoined unit 13Nov1941; various other postings and then reported MIA 27Jul1942 at Ruin Ridge and then on list of POWs at internment camp 57 & 106 in Italy; trf ex Mantua, Italy to Stalag VIIA 20Jun1944; deplaned in UK as recovered POW 13May1945; RTA 18Jun1945; Disemb.24Jul1945; Disch.08Sep1945; Died 01Mar1997 at Mandurah, WA; commemorated at The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Ballarat, Vic.

Stalag VIIA was the largest POW camp in Germany and was located north of the town of Moosburg in southern Bavaria.

Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 57 (Gruppignano - Udine in far north Province of Friuli) and 106 (Vercelli, Province of Vercelli, in region of Piedmont).

The 2/28Bn's first major engagement was during the Siege of Tobruk where the battalion carried out defensive duties as part of the garrison for more than 6 months before it was withdrawn by sea. The battalion was chosen to make the main attack at Ruin Ridge in the first Battle of El Alamein in mid-1942. Unfortunately it turned out to be a major disaster with the 2/28Bn overrun by the enemy with 65 men lost and 490 taken prisoner. The prisoners were taken to Benghazi, to Italy and then on to Germany from where they were liberated in 1945.

With basic research.