Robert MacTier
Robert Mactier | |
---|---|
Mont St Quentin, France | |
Buried | Hem Farm Military Cemetery, near Péronne |
Allegiance | Australia |
Service/ | Australian Imperial Force |
Years of service | 1917–18 |
Rank | Private |
Unit | 23rd Battalion |
Battles/wars | First World War
|
Awards | Victoria Cross |
Robert "Bob" Mactier,
Early life
Robert Mactier was born at
Victoria Cross action
He was 28 years old, and a
War Office, 14th December, 1918
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, Warrant Officer, Non-commissioned Officers and Men:-
No. 6939 Pte. Robert Mactier, late 23rd Bn., A.I.F.
'For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the morning of the 1st September, 1918, during the attack on the village of Mt. St. Quentin. Prior to the advance of the battalion, it was necessary to clear up several enemy strong points close to our line. This the bombing patrols sent forward failed to effect, and the battalion was unable to move. Private Mactier, single handed, and in daylight, thereupon jumped out of the trench, rushed past the block, closed with and killed the machine gun garrison of eight men with his revolver and bombs, and threw the enemy machine gun over the parapet. Then, rushing forward about 20 yards, he jumped into another strong point held by a garrison of six men, who immediately surrendered. Continuing to the next block through the trench, he disposed of an enemy machine gun which had been enfilading our flank advancing troops, and was then killed by another machine gun at close range. It was entirely due to this exceptional valour and determination of Private Mactier that the battalion was able to move on to its "jumping off" trench and carry out the successful operation of capturing the village of Mt. St. Quentin a few hours later.'
Mactier was buried nearby at Clery but in 1924, he was reinterred in the Hem Farm Military Cemetery near Péronne, France.[2][4] Mactier's actions have been described as "a remarkable one-man offensive".[7] He was unmarried.[8]
Legacy
Mactier has been commemorated in numerous ways. In his home town of Tatura there is a stained glass window in St Andrews Church dedicated to the memory of Mactier and his parents. The Robert Mactier VC Memorial Garden, commonly known as Mactier Park, is also named after him.
Notes
- ^ Bean 1942, pp. 835–836.
- ^ Melbourne University Press. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ Wigmore 1963, p. 156.
- ^ a b c Bomford 2012, p. 97.
- ^ "Robert Mactier". The AIF Project. UNSW@ADFA. 2011. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "No. 31067". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 December 1918. pp. 14778–14779.
- ^ Wigmore 1963, p. 157.
- ^ a b c Wigmore 1986, p. 95.
- ^ "Tatura Irrigation and Wartime Camps Museum – Local History". Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "Roll of Honour – Robert Mactier". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
References
- OCLC 41008291.
- Bomford, Michelle (2012). The Battle of Mont St Quentin–Peronne 1918. Australian Army Campaigns Series # 11. Newport, New South Wales: Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 978-1-921941962.
- Wigmore, Lionel (1963). They Dared Mightily (1st ed.). Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 874450.
- Wigmore, Lionel (1986). They Dared Mightily (2nd ed.). Canberra: Australian War Memorial. ISBN 0642994714.
External links
- MACTIER R.
- Private R. Mactier (photo, brief details)