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 17th 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 1st 1917
and was posted to the 23rd battalion. He left
Australia with other re-inforcements for
that unit on May 11th 1917, disembarking in
England prior to landing in France on
November 14th and finally joining up with his
unit on November 23rd 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 1st 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 2nd 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 30th "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 1st 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 23rd
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 23rd 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 1st 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
[*23rd 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 6th 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 23rd
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 21st Battalion, who
gallantly led his men under heavy fire; and Corporal
Hall of the 54th 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 2nd 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*]
23rd 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 23rd 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."
23RD 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.

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