Tobruk Siege Medal

The Tobruk Siege Medal, also known as the "T" Medal or the Tin Medal, was created in 1977 by the Rats of Tobruk Association (ROTA) and issued to Australian, British, Indian, New Zealand, and Polish troops who saw action during the Siege of Tobruk in Libya between April and December 1941. This unofficial medal was commissioned by ROTA branches and intended for wear on the left breast, separate from officially awarded medals. Initially, it was meant to be worn on the right breast, but in more recent times, wearing it on the left breast has been permitted.

The medal is silvered and shaped like a "T," bearing the inscription "Tobruk Siege 1941." The ribbon features a khaki base with light blue and maroon stripes. Measuring 7 centimeters in length and 5 centimeters in width, the medal carries the service number or name of the recipient engraved on its rear face. It was also posthumously issued to servicemen who were killed during the siege.

Many original recipients did not collect the medal, leading to continued demand from descendants seeking to complete their Rats of Tobruk collection. To address this, the Rats of Tobruk Association has secured a limited supply of replicas.