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.







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.

[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).

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.

[bob10]

Private Robert Mactier

• Biography
• Rolls and Awards
• Collection Items
• 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
• Australian Dictionary of Biography
• London Gazette entry, 13 December, 1918

Related information

Conflict

• First World War, 1914-1918

Subject

• 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion

Units

• Army
• Australian Army
• 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion

Objects

• Mactier, R (Private, VC, 23rd Bn d: 1918)
• HEM-MONACU, FRANCE. THE GRAVE OF 6939 PRIVATE ROBERT MACTIER VC
• STUDIO PORTRAIT OF PRIVATE LANE (SEATED) AND 6939 PRIVATE ROBERT MACTIER VC
• More >>