John Bernard MacKey
Encyclopedia
John Bernard "Jack" Mackey VC
(16 May 1922 – 12 May 1945) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British Commonwealth
soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines.
Born in Leichhardt, New South Wales
, Mackey was the only son and the eldest of four children of Stanislaus Mackey, a baker, and his wife Bridget Catherine Smyth Mackey. After attending the St. Columba's School, Leichhardt, and the Christian Brothers' High School
in Lewisham, New South Wales
, the Mackey family moved to Portland, New South Wales
, in 1936. Aged 14, John finished his formal education at the St. Joseph's Convent School that year.
Mackey had enlisted in the Australian Army
and served in North Africa
in 1940 - 42, including at the climatic Battle of El Alamein
at which the Axis
armies under the German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
were permanently expelled from Egypt
.
Mackey was 22 years old and an army corporal
in the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion
of the Australian Army
during the Second World War when the following events took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 12 May 1945 at Tarakan Island
, off North Borneo
, Corporal Mackey led his men along a very narrow spur trail where it was almost impossible to move to a flank. His section came under fire from three well-sited Japanese Army positions, but Corporal Mackey went ahead, charging his first position, wrestling with and killing one of the enemy, and he then rushed a heavy machine-gun
post, killing its crew. He again attacked a third enemy position further along the spur, and he was killed, but not before he had slain two more of the Japanese.
John Mackey's Victoria Cross is displayed in the Australian War Memorial
.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(16 May 1922 – 12 May 1945) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines.
Born in Leichhardt, New South Wales
Leichhardt, New South Wales
Leichhardt is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. Leichhardt is located 5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt...
, Mackey was the only son and the eldest of four children of Stanislaus Mackey, a baker, and his wife Bridget Catherine Smyth Mackey. After attending the St. Columba's School, Leichhardt, and the Christian Brothers' High School
Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham
Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham , is a Roman Catholic, day school for boys, located in Lewisham, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
in Lewisham, New South Wales
Lewisham, New South Wales
Lewisham is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lewisham is located 8 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Marrickville Council. The postcode is 2049...
, the Mackey family moved to Portland, New South Wales
Portland, New South Wales
Portland is a town in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Portland had a population of 1,881 people. The town was named after Australia's first cement works.-Location:...
, in 1936. Aged 14, John finished his formal education at the St. Joseph's Convent School that year.
Mackey had enlisted in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and served in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
in 1940 - 42, including at the climatic Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
at which the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
armies under the German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
were permanently expelled from Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Mackey was 22 years old and an army corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
in the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion
2/3rd Pioneer Battalion (Australia)
The 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion was an assault pioneer battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II. Formed in 1940, the battalion served in the Middle East before where it served in Syria and Palestine before taking part in the fighting around El Alamein...
of the Australian Army
Australian Military Forces
The Australian Military Forces was the official name of the Army of Australia from 1916 to 1980. This encompassed both the "regular army", and the forces, variously known during this period as the Militia, the Citizen Military Forces and the Australian Citizen Military Force .Initially this...
during the Second World War when the following events took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 12 May 1945 at Tarakan Island
Tarakan Island
Tarakan is an island off the coast of East Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is a marshy island situated in the eastern Celebes Sea, off the northeastern coast of Borneo. The island occupies an area of .-Petroleum:...
, off North Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, Corporal Mackey led his men along a very narrow spur trail where it was almost impossible to move to a flank. His section came under fire from three well-sited Japanese Army positions, but Corporal Mackey went ahead, charging his first position, wrestling with and killing one of the enemy, and he then rushed a heavy machine-gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
post, killing its crew. He again attacked a third enemy position further along the spur, and he was killed, but not before he had slain two more of the Japanese.
John Mackey's Victoria Cross is displayed in the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
.