Robert MacTier

He stormed machine-gun posts to open the way for his troops.

Robert Mactier was born at Tatura, Victoria, on 17 May 1890 and worked on his family's farms. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in March 1917 and joined the 23rd Battalion on the Western Front later that year. He took part in the fighting at Hamel and the Allied advances of 1918.

On 1 September 1918, during the attack on Mont St Quentin, his battalion's advance was blocked by enemy strongpoints. Sent forward as a runner, Mactier discovered that machine-gun fire was holding up the troops. Acting on his own initiative, he attacked successive positions with bombs and bayonet. He killed or captured their defenders and helped open the way for the battalion. He was killed while continuing the attack.

Mactier received the Victoria Cross posthumously. His death at Mont St Quentin ended his service; there was no later civilian career. He was buried at Hem-Monacu in France. His family preserved his letters and decorations, and his VC and two First World War campaign medals are held by the Australian War Memorial.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the morning of the 1st September, 1918, during the attack on the village of Mt. St. Quentin. Prior to the advance of the battalion, it was necessary to clear up several enemy strong points close to our line. This the bombing patrols sent forward failed to effect, and the battalion was unable to move. Pte. Mactier single-handed, and in daylight, thereupon jumped out of the trench, rushed past the block, closed with and killed the machine-gun garrison of eight men with his revolver and bombs, and threw the enemy machine gun over the parapet. Then, rushing forward about 20 yards he jumped into another strong point held by a garrison of six men who immediately surrendered. Continuing to the next block through the trench, he disposed of an enemy machine gun which had been enfilading our flank advancing troops, and was then killed by another machine gun at close range. It was entirely due to this exceptional valour and determination of Pte. Mactier that the battalion was able to move on to its “jumping-off” trench and carry out the successful operation of capturing the village of Mt. St. Quentin a few hours later.

Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 13 December 1918. 14 December 1918, Numb. 31067, pp. 14778-79