Reginald Roy Rattey
Encyclopedia
Reginald Roy Rattey VC
(28 March 1918 – 10 January 1986) was an Member of the 25th Australian Infantry Battalion and Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British
or Commonwealth
armed forces.
As an eighteen year old Johannes had undertaken the six week journey travelling from the Eden Valley in South Australia
to Temora, New South Wales
with an uncle in a horse drawn wagon. Then with only a bicycle for transport and a tent for accommodation he set about earning his living fencing, clearing land, harvesting wheat, shearing sheep and trapping rabbits.
At the time of Reg’s birth the then thirty one year old Johannes was share-farming for a solicitor Mr. T Farrell, three years later he purchased "Pine Lodge" near Wargin, on the Barmedman to Rankins Springs Railway line, to which he later added "Bon Accord", these two properties totalling 1672 acres.
Reg and his siblings attended the small one teacher school at Bellarwi travelling the six and a half km to and from school in a sulky pulled by the family’s pony ‘Podge’. After school and at weekends he helped with the work on the family farm and for recreation regularly played tennis. During the depression it became necessary for Reg and his elder brothers to find work away from the family property.
Reg was working at the Gibsonvale Open Cut Tin Mine at Kikoira and was a member of the part time Citizens Forces the 21st Light Horse Regiment at Wagga Wagga, under the command of Lieutenant Alexander when war broke out.
Shortly after this, his section advanced and encountered further Japanese machine gun fire. Rattey again launched a solo attack on an enemy gun position, killing one, injuring another and causing the remaining gun crew to retreat. The section captured the Japanese machine gun with 2000 ammunition rounds before advancing further.
and was given a full military funeral at St Mary’s Catholic Church, West Wyalong.
, Reg received the 1939/45 Service Star, Pacific Star
, 1939/45 King George VI War Medal
, Australian Service Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II. Silver Jubilee Medal
.
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....
(28 March 1918 – 10 January 1986) was an Member of the 25th Australian Infantry Battalion and 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 award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
or 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...
armed forces.
Early Life
Reginald Roy Rattey, born on 28 March 1917, at Barmedman, a small rural community midway between Wyalong and Temora, 457 kilometres south-west of Sydney, was the third of seven children of a Lutheran couple, Johannes Albert Rattey a Springton, South Australia, born, share farmer and his Munyabla New South Wales born wife Anna Elisabeth (nee Damschke) who were married at Pleasant Hills on 26 February 1914.As an eighteen year old Johannes had undertaken the six week journey travelling from the Eden Valley in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
to Temora, New South Wales
Temora, New South Wales
Temora is a town located in north east part of the Riverina area of New South Wales, south-west of the state capital, Sydney. At the 2006 census the population of Temora was 4,086.-History:...
with an uncle in a horse drawn wagon. Then with only a bicycle for transport and a tent for accommodation he set about earning his living fencing, clearing land, harvesting wheat, shearing sheep and trapping rabbits.
At the time of Reg’s birth the then thirty one year old Johannes was share-farming for a solicitor Mr. T Farrell, three years later he purchased "Pine Lodge" near Wargin, on the Barmedman to Rankins Springs Railway line, to which he later added "Bon Accord", these two properties totalling 1672 acres.
Reg and his siblings attended the small one teacher school at Bellarwi travelling the six and a half km to and from school in a sulky pulled by the family’s pony ‘Podge’. After school and at weekends he helped with the work on the family farm and for recreation regularly played tennis. During the depression it became necessary for Reg and his elder brothers to find work away from the family property.
Reg was working at the Gibsonvale Open Cut Tin Mine at Kikoira and was a member of the part time Citizens Forces the 21st Light Horse Regiment at Wagga Wagga, under the command of Lieutenant Alexander when war broke out.
Victoria Cross Citation
On 26 July 1945, Rattey was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Buin Road in South Bougainville on 22 March. The 25th Battalion were ordered to capture a Japanese stronghold following an allied air and artillery attack. After determining that an attack by his section would likely incur many casualties, he single-handedly attacked three Japanese weapons bunkers with his Bren gun. After eliminating one of the bunkers with a grenade, he returned to his section through enemy fire to obtain two more grenades and returned to destroy two more enemy bunkers.Shortly after this, his section advanced and encountered further Japanese machine gun fire. Rattey again launched a solo attack on an enemy gun position, killing one, injuring another and causing the remaining gun crew to retreat. The section captured the Japanese machine gun with 2000 ammunition rounds before advancing further.
After The War
Rattey died 10 January 1986 due to emphysemaEmphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
and was given a full military funeral at St Mary’s Catholic Church, West Wyalong.
Honours and awards
In addition to The Victoria CrossVictoria 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....
, Reg received the 1939/45 Service Star, Pacific Star
Pacific Star
The Pacific Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II. It was also awarded to certain foreign servicemen, such as Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz of the United States.-Entitlement:...
, 1939/45 King George VI War Medal
War Medal 1939–1945
The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea...
, Australian Service Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II. Silver Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II...
.
- In the Strand, London at the V.P. Day Celebrations on 29 August 1995, twelve plaques were unveiled to record the heroic actions of VC recipients. One of these plaques is in honour of Reg Rattey VC.
- A Memorial Cairn was unveiled in Lions Park, West Wyalong on 13 November 1992.
- In March 1999 the Reg Rattey VC Drive was opened in West Wyalong.
- A club in Darwin at Larrakeyah BarracksLarrakeyah BarracksLarrakeyah Barracks incorporating HMAS Coonawarra is the main base for the Australian Defence Force in the Northern Territory of Australia, and occupies the headland west of the suburb of Larrakeyah in the capital, Darwin...
was named "Rattey Club"
- There is a street named after him in the town of West Wyalong called Reg Rattey Drive, where he spent much of his life after being born nearby.
External links
- Reginald Rattey VC Biography - Original Source of citation written by Harry Willey from diggerhistory.info
- Bren Gunner (Sergeant Reginald Rattey) VC - A portrait of Reg by Harold Abbott, 1945, Australian War Memorial
- Veteran Certificate - Veteran Certificate from The World War Two Nominal Roll. The WW2Roll was created to honour and commemorate the men and women who served in Australia's defence forces and the Merchant Navy during this conflict.
- Our Humble Hero - By Reg's daughter Carmel Barbary. This book provides over 260 pages of details about the life of Reg Rattey with an array of photos, newspaper clippings & stories.
- Reg Rattey's a hero West Wyalong will not forget - Article from The Daily Telegraph By Samantha Williams, April 23, 2008.
- Remembrance Driveway - During the mid-1990s 25 Rest Areas and Memorial Parks were developed to honour the 25 Australian World War II and Vietnam War Victoria Cross winners. The highway from Canberra to Sydney is now known as Remembrance Driveway. Reg's Memorial and BBQ area can be found at the start of Remembrance Driveway, directly behind the Australian War MemorialAustralian War MemorialThe 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...