| Service number | 6939 |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | 17/05/1890 |
| Birth Place | Australia: Victoria, Tatura |
| Death Date | 01/09/1918 |
| Death Place | France: Picardie, Somme, Mont St Quentin |
| Final Rank | Private |
| Service | Australian Imperial Force |
| Unit | 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion |
| Places | |
| Event | The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (6939) Private Robert Mactier, 23rd Battalion, AIF, First World War 1914-1918 |
| Conflict/Operation | First World War, 1914-1918 |
Private Robert Mactier
Description
Robert 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.
Collection items
Rolls
-
Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files:
- Unit
- 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Private
-
Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files:
- Unit
- 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Private
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Private
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Private
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Private
-
First World War Embarkation Roll:
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Private
-
First World War Nominal Roll:
- Unit
- 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Private
-
Roll of Honour:
- Unit
- 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Private
Timeline
| Date of birth | 17/05/1890 | |
|---|---|---|
| Date of embarkation | 11/05/1917 | |
| Date of enlistment | 01/03/1917 | |
| Date of honour or award | 01/09/1918 | Awarded Victoria Cross for action at Mont St Quentin, north of Peronne, France whilst serving with 23 Battalion, 6 Brigade, 2 Division as a Private |
| Date of recommendation honour or award | 13/09/1918 | |
| Date of fate | 01/09/1918 | |
| Date of death | 01/09/1918 |
Related information
Conflicts
Places
Subjects
Related Objects
- Mactier, Robert VC (Private, b.1890 - d.1918)
- Mactier, Robert VC (Private, b.1890 - d.1918)
- HEM-MONACU, FRANCE. THE GRAVE OF 6939 PRIVATE ROBERT MACTIER VC (1890-1918), 23RD BATTALION AIF. ...
- STUDIO PORTRAIT OF PRIVATE LANE (SEATED) AND 6939 PRIVATE ROBERT MACTIER VC (1890-1918), 23RD ...
- LAKE COOPER, NEAR COROP, VIC. GROUP PORTRAIT OF A PICNIC PARTY. LEFT TO RIGHT: ROBERT MACTIER ...
- Wallet 1 of 1 - Extracts from letters of Private Robert Mactier VC, 1917-1918
- Wallet 1 of 1 - Extracts from letters of Private Robert Mactier VC, 1917-1918
- Wallet 1 of 1 – Letters from Robert Mactier VC to his sister Belle Crawford and other papers, c.1912-c.1962
- Wallet 1 of 1 – Letters from Robert Mactier VC to his sister Belle Crawford and other papers, c.1912-c.1962
- Darge Photographic Company collection of negatives