#tobruk

Australian sign post on the road the El Alamein road, September of 1942.

There are potentially multiple reasons for this sign, as well as for the crucifixes.

The first is that it might denote that the area ahead isn’t exactly the most safe.

Just as likely, and potentially more realistic, is that it helps to keep track of who is out on patrol.

For example, during the Tobruk siege, Australian forces would use a system known as “love and kisses” patrols. Essentially, they would leave sticks in either an equals sign (love) or a cross (kisses) to indicate that their section of the perimeter had been patrolled.

So the crosses here might be another way to signify that someone is out on patrols.

That said, this is all conjecture, but it is still interesting.

Soldats australiens au fusil-mitrailleur Bren sur la ligne de front pendant le siège de Tobrouk – Campagne d'Afrique du Nord – Août 1941

Photographe : George Silk