The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX20317) Corporal John Bernard Mackey, 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion (Infantry), Second World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial every day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Gerard Pratt the story for this day was on (NX20317) Corporal John Bernard Mackey, 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion (Infantry), Second World War.


**Due to technical issues this recording is of poor quality and not for public display.**

NX20317 Corporal John Bernard Mackey VC, 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion
KIA 12 May 1945
Photograph: 134468

Story delivered 16 July 2013

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Corporal John Bernard Mackey VC, of the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion.

John Mackey was born in Leichardt, Sydney, on the 16th of May, 1922, brother to three younger sisters. The family later moved to Portland, New South Wales, where John left school at the age of 14 to work in his father's bakery.

John enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force just after his 18th birthday in 1940, joining the 9th Division's 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion. This unit was involved in some of the heavy fighting at El Alamein in 1942, a success for the Allies and one of the war's turning points. The 9th Division was then recalled to Australia to face the Japanese.

After completing jungle training in Queensland, the 2/3rd sailed to New Guinea for the successful defence of Australian held-positions near Finschhafen. Here, John was promoted to corporal and, suffering from malaria, returned home on leave.

His battalion reformed at Ravenshoe in Queensland. Meanwhile, Australian Army divisions were committed to the task of retaking Japanese-held Borneo. Elements of the 9th Division were to make an amphibious landing on the island of Tarakan, which was occupied by a resolute and well-entrenched enemy force.

Once landed on the island, the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion began clearing the Japanese from high ground to the east of the township of Tarakan. On the 12th of May 1945, Corporal Mackey led his section in an attack on an enemy feature known as "Helen". This was on a steep-sided narrow ridge and was defended by three enemy machine guns. Leading his men forward, Mackey charged the first machine-gun position and silenced it. He then charged the next machine gun, which was firing from a bunker only six metres away, and killed the crew with grenades. Further up the steep slope another machine-gun position was firing on his platoon, which Mackey attacked. Close to the enemy position, he was killed by machine-gun fire, but not before accounting for two more of the enemy. By his exceptional bravery and complete disregard for his own life, Corporal Mackey was largely responsible for enabling his company to gain its objective.

For this action, Corporal Mackey was awarded the Victoria Cross. The citation for the award says that "his fearless action was an inspiration to the whole battalion and although he was killed, his name is legendary."

In the weeks that followed, Tarakan was taken and Japan surrendered in August.

John Bernard Mackey is buried in the Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia. His Victoria Cross is displayed in the Hall of Valour at the Australian War Memorial.

Corporal John Mackey's name is listed on the Roll of Honour to my left, along with the names of almost 40,000 others from the Second World War.

This is one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Corporal John Bernard Mackey and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.