VC Recipient.

[d2dave]

I have been planing to share this and I thought with remembrance day having just past, now was an appropriate time.

The small town I live in (Pop 3500) had a man who was awarded a VC medal for his actions in WW1. His name is Rober Mactier.

When I moved here 14 years ago there was a park in town called Mactier Gardens.

I had no idea who Mactier was. There are lots of things in towns around Australia that are named after people, usually ones that have had left their mark for one reason or another.

This was until about two years ago when a fundraiser was started to have a bronze statue made and put in this park.

Below is a pic of what has been done. The opening ceremony for this was only two weeks ago. The total cost of this was $200,000.

Prior to this being built this was just a lovely park with a rotunda. There was no memorials as such.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/574.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/575.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/576.jpg

For anyone interested here is a bit of history on what he did.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_MacTier

[p38arover]

Well done by your locals. I quite like the statue.

Do you think they'd mind if I amended the plaque with a Texta? It's missing an apostrophe and possibly a couple of commas.

[d2dave]

I'm guessing it should have been "Man's" yes?

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Interesting that they depict a soldier carrying a pistol (an officer's weapon) and no rifle.

Do they explain the reason?

[d2dave]

Ron, not being an expert in grammer as I failed third form, I thought I would have a crack anyway.

Would this be correct.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/573.jpg

[p38arover]

I may be wrong, but that's how I'd do it Dave. I'd also consider a hyphen to make it "single-handed".

[KarlB]

As d2dave correctly points out, the possessive apostrophe in "MANS" is certainly missing and a couple of commas would not go astray. Another big booboo is using the adjective "SINGLE HANDED" (which should have been hyphenated anyway) instead of the adverb SINGLE-HANDEDLY. Then there is the use of "V.C." when the correct designation is VC (see Defence Internet | Fact Sheets | Guide to Honours (http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.operations.mod.uk/honours/honours.htm)).

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[KarlB]

Interesting that they depict a soldier carrying a pistol (an officer's weapon) and no rifle.

Do they explain the reason?

Here is the official citation which explains why he is depicted with a pistol:
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.'

[d2dave]

I may be wrong

What you wrong. Never.:Rolling:

[bob10]

Private Robert Mactier




Biography (http://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10676720/#biography)
Rolls and Awards (http://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10676720/#rolls-and-awards)
Collection Items (http://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10676720/#collection-items)
Timeline (http://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10676720/#timeline)

Biography

Birth date:17 May 1890Birth place:Australia: Victoria, TaturaDeath date:01 September 1918Death place:France: Picardie, Somme, Mont St QuentinFinal rank:PrivateService number:6939 - First World War, 1914-1918Unit:23rd Australian Infantry BattalionRobert Mactier (1890-1918) was born at Tatura, Victoria, and worked on his parents' property. Enlisting in March 1917, he joined his battalion on the Western Front in late 1917. Next year he fought in the battle of Hamel and in the August offensive. In his last letter home he wrote: "if our side only keep going I think the war [will] be over by next spring".

Mactier won the only Victoria Cross for his battalion, but made the ultimate sacrifice. Moving into position for the assault on Mont St Quentin, the 23rd was stopped by enemy machine-gun fire. As a company runner, Mactier was sent to investigate. Armed with a revolver and bombs, he attacked, throwing a bomb, climbing through the wire, and tossing the machine-gun out of the trench. When his comrades came forward, they found the crew dead and saw Mactier attacking the next post. He then charged a third post, killing the occupants. Finding yet another obstacle, he ran into the open for his fourth attack. He was killed by fire from his flank.

Mactier was awarded the Victoria Cross and two service medals for the First World War.










Related links



23rd Battalion (http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11210.asp)
Australian Dictionary of Biography (http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100358b.htm?hilite=Robert3BMactier)
London Gazette entry, 13 December, 1918 (http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31067/supplements/14778)


http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_SCREEN/H06787A.JPG (http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H06787A)

Related information

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918 (http://www.awm.gov.au/search/all/?query=&op=Search&format=list&section%5B0%5D=collections&filter%5Brelated_conflicts%5D=First+World+War%2C+1 914-1918)

Subject

23rd Australian Infantry Battalion (http://www.awm.gov.au/search/all/?query=&op=Search&format=list&filter%5Brelated_subjects%5D=23rd+Australian+Infan try+Battalion&section%5B%5D=collections)

Units

Army (http://www.awm.gov.au/search/all/?query=&op=Search&format=list&filter%5Brelated_units%5D=Army&section%5B0%5D=collections)
Australian Army (http://www.awm.gov.au/search/all/?query=&op=Search&format=list&filter%5Brelated_units%5D=Australian+Army&section%5B0%5D=collections)
23rd Australian Infantry Battalion (http://www.awm.gov.au/search/all/?query=&op=Search&format=list&filter%5Brelated_units%5D=23rd+Australian+Infantry +Battalion&section%5B0%5D=collections)

Objects

Mactier, R (Private, VC, 23rd Bn d: 1918) (http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/2DRL%2F0144/)
HEM-MONACU, FRANCE. THE GRAVE OF 6939 PRIVATE ROBERT MACTIER VC (http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/A05806/)
STUDIO PORTRAIT OF PRIVATE LANE (SEATED) AND 6939 PRIVATE ROBERT MACTIER VC (http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/A05807/)
More >> (http://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10676720/?query=robert%20mactier%20VC%2C%20WW1&query=robert%20mactier%20VC%2C%20WW1#)

[carjunkieanon]

While I agree with the grammar corrections, I reckon a man who did what he did can spell and punctuate as he damn well pleases!

[JDNSW]

While I agree with the grammar corrections, I reckon a man who did what he did can spell and punctuate as he damn well pleases!

As I understand it, the spelling and grammar are not his, but were provided as part of the monument. One would think that in erecting a permanent memorial to someone as deserving as this, the organisers could at least get the spelling right.

Failure to get it right should probably be laid at the door of both the organising committee and the company that produced the plaque, and as perhaps is pointed out in another thread, we are seeing the results of a generation of indifferent teaching.

John

[digger]

There may be those errors on the plaque but most will not even notice them.

A beautiful memorial and well done to the community for raising it.

[jc109]

Wow guys. The memorial is completed. No amount of pedantry here will change the fact that a couple of errors were made. If it makes you feel good to pick at it then fine but do you have to do so in such a public manner after that small town has pulled together to do such a great job? d2dave has handled this graciously, but couldn't we just say "well done"?

[303gunner]

What you wrong. Never.:Rolling:
He missed: "..... Moved to it's jumping off point..."

[KarlB]

Mactier is an heroic sole whose memory should not be blemished by poor English. The plaque, to me at least, shows lack of care and disrespect to a great man.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[KarlB]

He missed: "..... Moved to it's jumping off point..."

No he didn't, '... moved to its jumping off point ..." is correct. It's is a contraction for it is (or it has), while its is a possessive pronoun.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[d2dave]

d2dave has handled this graciously, but couldn't we just say "well done"?

I have no issues hearing other peoples thoughts on this. This is what makes for a good conversation.

My view. I think when so much money has been spent they should get little things like the grammar right in a plaque.

It was not long ago a town twice the size of Tatura, 10 minutes down the road, had a new police station finished.

When they unveiled the plaque the town's name was spelt wrong. This made headlines on the national news in Melbourne

I drove past it last night(Mactier Park) for the first time after dark. It looked fantastic at night. I will see if the camera does it justice and if it does I will post a night photo.

[jc109]

Fair enough. Don't get me wrong, as I've been known to wield a Texta in anger many a time myself, but I just fail to see the benefit in digs like this from afar. If I was involved in it somehow I'd be bowing my head and would be busily planning a midnight swap out for a self-funded replacement, but as an observer I'd just smile and say a sincere well done. Remember guys that no one has misspelt his name or done anything to dishonour him. It's simply a few minor grammatical errors that are sadly all too common these days. And given the population, I think this is an outstanding effort. I might as well apologise now for my rambling single paragraph.

[JamesH]

I don't think anyone has been disrespectful to this brave man's sacrifice or to the efforts of the town to honour him. There are serious errors in that plaque which can be fixed by simply replacing it. I would not rate my grammar skills as particularly strong so I've no right to be self-righteous. Someone should pass this information to the town council. This is a fine task done by the town that deserves to be completed.

[Eevo]

which can be fixed by simply replacing it.

how much does a plaque cost?

[d2dave]

I sent an email to my brother and two sisters for comment.

Below is my brother's reply and I have to say I agree with him.

Yes well they may have spent $200k on the monument but they certainly didn't spend any money on an proof reading. Not only as you suggest are there omissions in punctuation but it's very clumsy wording. It would be much better to say ? in successively attacking single-handedly three enemy positions in broad daylight?. In fact the entire thing is quite woeful. Either way single-handedly needs to be used instead of single handed. And the way that sentence ? what am I talking about, the whole thing is just one sentence!! - is worded makes it sound like he attacked someone called single handed in broad daylight. Atrocious grammar. The latter half is not much better either.

Is there a campaign in Tatura to find the half wit responsible?

[disco man]

Jeremy Clarkson has a DVD called 'war stories' which covers just how incredibly brave and heroic you need to be to be awarded which is in my view the highest honour one can be awarded. Forget the idiot Clarkson that appears on Top Gear,this is a totally different person who is just trying to tell the stories of incredible bravery and sacrifice. And a very big thank you to Dave for bringing this wonderful monument to our attention,also the community that put this all together,take a bow folks well done!!!

[V8Ian]

He missed: "..... Moved to it's jumping off point..."
Its is posessive so does not have an apostrophe. It's is an abbreviated from of 'it is', so requires an apostrophe.