Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in Bowen, Queensland, on the 14 September 1897, Bertram Ian Rudolph Macintyre was to start his life journey, not knowing that at the age of 18 he was to become a part of the 43rd Battalion. His father, John Macintyre, was 42 and his mother, Frances Maude Rudall, was 34. Before departing for the 43rd Battalion, Bertram Ian Rudolph Macintyre worked as a clerk. Clerks performed a variety of clerical and administrative duties, such as being a civil service employee whose role was to maintain the handwritten records. When departing he did not have a wife nor a partner. The eighteen years that he was alive before being embarked, he was never convicted nor discharged for anything that he has done. This means that he was never caught breaking the law and being convicted.

On the 13th of January 1916, Bertram Ian Rudolph Macintyre enlisted for WWI. He was measured at 5ft 4inch when being enlisted. Bertram Ian Rudolph MACINTYRE embarked for Europe during June 1916. The battalion briefly landed in Egypt for a stop, then went on to Britain for further training. They arrived on the Western Front in late December. Ian Rudolph was a part of the 3rd Division. The third division was raised in Australia early in 1916. The 43rd Battalion was South Australia's contribution to the strength of the division for the war. Alongside with the 41st, 42nd, and 44th Battalions, plus other support troops, it formed the 11th Brigade. On the 25th of November 1916, he and battalion set sailed for France. Throughout his time in France, he was admitted to hospital 4 times due to sickness. Respiratory diseases such as influenza, and pneumonia were rife for troops in on the Western front. Body lice in the trenches caused trench fever, resulting in headaches, aching muscles, skin sores and a high fever.

Throughout most of 1917, the 43rd Battalion troops spent most of their time bogged in bloody trench warfare in Flanders. Flanders is located toward the northern part of Belgium. Throughout June, the battalion took part in the battle of Messines. Battle of Messines, (7–14 June 1917), British victory during World War I. The capture of Messines Ridge was a preliminary operation that took place just prior to the Battle of Passchendaele. British troops passing through the ruins of Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium, September 29, 1918. During October, they were a part of the Third Battle of Ypres. The Third Battle of Ypres was fought between July 31 and November 6, 1917. World War I battle that served as a vivid symbol of the mud, madness, and senseless slaughter of the Western Front. Throughout most of 1918, the battalion spent most of its time fighting in the Somme valley. In April they helped stop the German Spring offensive at Villers-Bretonneux. Throughout July 1918, the battalion was part of General Monash's attack at Hamel. Toward late 1918 The 43rd joined the advance that followed the 2nd Division's victory at Mont St Quentin, and it was during this operation that Temporary Corporal Lawrence Weathers earned the battalion's only Victoria Cross. The battalion returned to Australia on the 27 August 1919. Bertram Ian Rudolph Macintyre died on the 20th of February 1956. He received a plaque memorial in the South Australian garden of remembrance.