General service whistle : Major I G Mackay, 4 Battalion, AIF

Standard nickle-plated brass tube-bodied whistle with intergal suspension loop, double window and lead fipple. The barrel is impressed 'PATENT', with no other markings.

Whistle used at Gallipoli by Iven Giffard Mackay who was born on 7 April 1882 at Grafton, NSW. A keen member of the militia and assistant lecturer and demonstrator in physics at the University of Sydney, he was commissioned in 26 Infantry Battalion in 1913 and at the outbreak of war volunteered for the AIF. He was appointed Captain and adjutant of 4 Battalion on 9 September just 5 days after his marriage to Marjorie Eveline, but, injured in a riding accident, he did not embark with his unit, sailing later instead with 13 Battalion.

Once in Egypt, he returned to 4 Battalion as Transport Officer, a position which prevented him from participating in the Gallipoli landings. He finally reached Anzac in May, to help make good the battalion's heavy officer casualties. By August had been promoted to Major and given command of A Company. Mackay led this company at Lone Pine, and was in the thick of the fighting. He was twice wounded, and eventually hospitalised in England, not rejoining his unit until after the evacuation.

In France, Mackay was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and took command of 4 Battalion. He was appointed to command 1 Machine Gun Battalion in early 1918, and in June was promoted Brigadier General, commanding 1 Brigade. Mackay served again in the Second World War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant General. He died in 1966.