Letters from Robert Mactier VC to his sister Belle Crawford and other papers, c.1912-c.1962 - Part 1

Robert Mactier V.C. 17-5-1890 — 1-9-1918.

Robert Mactier was born at Tatura Victoria on

May 17^th 1890. He was the son of Robert and

Christina Mactier of "Reitcam" Tatura, and

the second son of a close knit family of ten

children. Robert was educated at Tatura 

and after completing his education worked on

his fathers farms at Tatura and Caniambo.

He excelled at football and shooting. He

is remembered as a well mannered young man

with an irrepressible sense of humour.

Bob enlisted at Seymour on March 1^st 1917

and was posted to the 23^rd battalion. He left

Australia with other re-inforcements for

that unit on May 11^th 1917, disembarking in

England prior to landing in France on

November 14^th and finally joining up with his

unit on November 23^rd 1917. He remained

with them until his death less than a year

later. Bob was very popular within his

unit and was made a scout for the headquarters

of his company on May 1918. Robert Mactier won

his Victoria Cross on September 1^st 1918 for most

conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty the

during the famous attack by the Australians on

Mont St Quentin. The summit of Mont St Quentin was vital

to the success of either side and the Australians

were opposed by the elite of the German army.

The 2^nd Prussian Guards Division with the

renowned Kaiser Augusta and Kaiser Alexandra

Regiments. So strongly held was the St Quentin

position that when Lord Rawlinson knew of the

Australian proposal to attack it he said to General

Monash on Aug 30^th "And so you think you

are going to take Mont St Quentin with three

battalions. What presumption! However

I don't think I ought to to stop you! So go ahead &

try – and I wish you luck. On Sept 1^st 1918

six Victoria Crosses were won by the Australian

"diggers" and their officers. Prior to the advance

of the battalion it was necessary to clear up

several enemy strongpoints close to the Australian

line. This the bombing patrols sent forward failed

to effect and the battalion was unable to move.

Mactiers action, which he could hardly have

expected to survive, occurred during the 23^rd

Battalion's attempt to move into position for the

early morning assault on Mont St Quentin, which

later had to be temporarily abandoned until St

Quentin had been softened up by artillery. The

company involved was led by Lieut. F. J. Jenkins, who

had the task of leading the 23^rd from a position

known as Florina Trench so the jumping-off

positions in Gostlieb and Lave Trenches, Jenkins

Copy

The Recommendation.

Australian 13 September 1918.

[*6th Aust

Infantry*]

On the morning of 1^st September the operations

entailing the capture of Mont St Quentin this

man stands out for the greatest bravery and Victoria

devotion to duty. 15 mins before zero 2 bombing Cross

patrols were sent to clear up several enemy

[*23^rd Btn

A.I.F.*}

strong xxxxx posts close to our line but they were

met with very strong stubborn resistance & no

success and the battalion was unable to move

on its Jumping Off Trench.

[*6939

Pte Robert

Mactier*]

Mactier singlehanded and in daylight

then jumped out of the trench from the leading

Company rushed past the block, closed with the

block and killed the machine gun garrison of 8

men with his revolver and bombs and threw the

[*Recieved

19.9.18*]

enemy machine gun over the parapet. He

rushed forward another 20 yards and jumped

into another strong post held by a garrison of 6

[*Passed

13.9.18*]

men who immediately surrended. Continuing

to the next block through the trench an enemy

gun which had been enfilading our flank

[*Brigade

Division

9-18.*]

advancing troops was swung into him but he

jumped out of the trench into the open & disposed

of this third post and gun crew by bombing them from

the rear. Before he could get into his trench he was killed

by enemy machine gun at close range. In the three

[*sgd.  J. C. Robertson

Brigadier General

Commanding 6^th Aust Infantry Brigade*]

found, by sending out a patrol under Sgt. G.

Warren, that it should be possible to make a

detour would have meant the unit being late to

jump-off, the only other alternative was to use the

direct route, hoping that it would be possible to

clear a way as he progressed. The 23^rd

therefore jumped out in single file after being

relieved in Florina trench, & commenced to

cross the Peronne Rd, which cut the northern

end of Florina trench – then back into the

trench. No sooner had the advance been resumed

after crossing the road than the fighting patrol at the

head of the column encountered an enemy machine

gun behind a barbed-wire barricade. Two similiar

posts could be seen further on. The advance halted

Corporal R. Finlay in charge of the leaders, organised

an attack on the first column position, but was

immediately killed. Meanwhile while the column

halted Jenkins sent a runner forward to investigate. 

This runner was Private Mactier. Well armed with a

revolver and bombs. Singlehanded and in daylight,

he jumped out of the Australian trench, closed with

and killed an enemy machine gun garrison of eight

men with revolver and bombs, and threw the enemy

gun over the parapet. After that he ran forward

another 30 yards, and captured a point held by

six men, and finally disposed of another enemy

machine gun post by bombs before he himself was

killed. Surely an amazing feat. Then there

was Sergeant Lowerson of the 21^st Battalion, who

gallantly led his men under heavy fire; and Corporal

Hall of the 54^th Battalion, who followed up a series of

brave deeds by carrying a dangerously wounded

comrade through a heavy barrage. And there was

 Lieutent Towner, of the 2^nd Machine Gun Battalion

with a whole series of gallant actions on that day;

and Private Currey, who rushed a machine gun

and a Lewis gun – among other things. And there

were other deeds great deeds in plenty. Mactiers

feat has been officially described as standing out

for the greatest bravery and devotion to duty.

Robert Mactier died exemplifying as never

before the 23rd motto  FORWARD UNDETERRED.

His name is commemorated by the Army in a 

soldiers club at Watsonia Barracks – Known as

the Mactier Club. The Club was officially

opened by the Minister for the Army in May 1960

and included a plaque to Mactiers memory.

posts that Mactier rushed 15 of the enemy were

found killed & 30 taken prisoner.

It was entirely due to this mans

exceptional bravery and determination

that the Battalion was able to move on to

its Jumping Off Trench and carry out the

successful operation of capturing the

village of Mont St. Quentin a few hours

later

[*signed

Charles

Rosenthal

Major General

Commanding

Second Aust.

Div.*]

PRIVATE "MAC."

"He was only one of the Boys," as the

song says. Not an old soldier, as length

of service counts, but he died as only a

hero can die, and the thoughts of his

valour will remain when Time has effaced

most other records from the tablet

of battalion memories.

The above reference is to Private R.

Mactier. of B Coy, and following is the

story of his sacrifice for duty's sake:–

Doing important work as a scout in the

line during a most anxious period, at the

instigation of his officer, Lieut. Jenkins

he went forward to ascertain the cause

of the battalion being held up. He soon

discovered it in the shape of a nest

of Hun machine gun positions. The first

of these he attacked with bombs, eventually

throwing the gun over the parapet.

Immediately on accomplishment of

this feat a second post became his objective.

He soon accounted for this, and

six Germans were forced to surrender.

Another obstacle remained as a bar to

progress, and gallantly Mac rushed this

hornet's nest, giving his best in the

third of a sequence of almost unparalleled

deeds.

Apart from soldiering, Mac, who hailed

from Tatura, was liked for his cheerful

and obliging disposition. He was recognised

as the most uncomplaining

"digger" in the Coy., and whether the

job was pleasant or painful, with a smile

he did it. As a footballer in our premier

team he took a prominent part in the

sport of the battalion. In short "a Soldier

and a Man."

                             

The following officers are at present

on leave:– Lieut-Col. Brazenor, Capts.

Farrell, Clues, Martin, Lieuts. Maddress,

Elliott, Hume, Bragg, P. J. Smith and

Dixon.

[*PR83/310

Australian

War Memorial*]

23^rd Battalion

France.

11/12/18.

My Dear Mr Mactier,

Will you permit me on

behalf of all officers, n.c.o's

& men of this Battalion to

offer our sincere sympathy

& sorrow in the loss you

have sustained by the death

of your very gallant son.

I have refrained from

writing you before until I

knew definitely as to

whether the Victoria Cross

had been awarded him for

3.

award is one of the most

outstanding V.C. feats of

the war.

Will you and your family

accept our keen regret

in his death & the

sincere hope that time

the great healer will

temper the sad loss you

have sustained.

Yours very sincerely

W BrazEnor

Lt. Col.

Cdg 23^rd Bn.

2.

his great bravery at Mt. St.

Quentin. I learnt of the

award yesterday & enclose

herewith a copy of the

recommendation which speaks

for itself.

The Battalion is intensely

proud of your son, always

popular, he is the only V.C.

recipient in this Battalion,

& the pity is that he is

not here to receive it.

He was indeed a son

& soldier to be proud of &

I consider that the deed

which gained him the

Mactier

"He rose responsive

to his Country's call."

"To live in hearts

we leave behind is

not to die."

23_^RD BATTALION

Private Robert Mactier

Killed in Action in France, September 1st, 1918

Mr and Mrs R. Mactier and family are

deeply grateful for your kind expressions

of sympathy on the death of their beloved

son and brother.

"Reitcam," Tatura.