Corporal JOHN BERNARD MACKEY
Australian Infantry
A.I.F. 2/3 Pnr. Bn.
Died 12 May 1945
Age 25 years old
- Country of Service Australian
- Awards Victoria Cross
- Additional Info Son of Stanley and Bridget Catherine Mackey, of Camberwell, Victoria, Australia.
- Personal Inscription R.I.P.
- Additional Citation note
The following details are given in the London Gazette of 10th November, 1945 - In an attack at Tarakan, Borneo, on 12th May, 1945 Corporal Mackey was in charge of a section of the 2nd/3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion. The section came under fire from three well sited enemy positions. Corporal Mackey charged the first of three machine gun positions that were holding up his platoon's advance and bayonetted one gunner and then killed the crew of a second gun with grenades. Changing his rifle for a sub-machine-gun he attacked the second machine-gun position. He was killed but not before he had killed two more of the enemy. By his exceptional bravery and complete disregard for his own life Corporal Mackey was largely responsible for the killing of seven Japanese and the elimination of two machine-gun posts, which enabled his platoon to gain its objective, from which the company continued to engage the enemy. His fearless action and outstanding courage were an inspiration to the whole battalion.
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