MASSIE, Robert John Allwright
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | 33rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 8 July 1890 |
| Home Town: | Point Piper, Woollahra, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney C of E Grammer School |
| Occupation: | Civil Engineer/Professional Cricketer |
| Died: | Natural causes ( cancer), Mosman, New South Wales, Australia, 14 February 1966, aged 75 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Northbridge (Shore) Sydney Church of England Grammar School Memorial Cricket Ground Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 4th Infantry Battalion, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 4th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 1 Feb 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 4th Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 4th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Wounded ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 20 Jul 1915: | Wounded ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 6 Aug 1915: | Wounded The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli, 3rd occasion | |
| 1 Dec 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 4th Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 May 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Major, 33rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Major, 33rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Marathon, Sydney | |
| 4 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Major, 33rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Oct 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel | |
| 16 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel |
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"Robert John Allwright (Jack) Massie (1890-1966), sportsman, soldier and businessman, was born on 8 July 1890 at St Leonards, Sydney, son of Hugh Hamon Massie, banker and ex-international cricketer, and his wife Tryphena Agnes, daughter of (Sir) Thomas Dibbs. Jack attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore) in 1900-10. He played for his school and later the University of Sydney as a left-arm bowler, and was selected for the New South Wales State side in 1911-12 against the Marylebone Cricket Club. He learned boxing from Larry Foley and later represented the university as a heavyweight, gaining the State championship in 1914. When Massie left school he was senior prefect, with colours in cricket, football, rowing and athletics, and the Venour Nathan Shield for rifle-shooting. In his last term he was invited to row in the New South Wales eight but this his father would not allow, thinking him too young. He rowed for the university instead, before enrolling.
In 1910 Massie commenced civil engineering at the University of Sydney and in 1914 graduated B.E. with first-class honours and the University medal. He won a half-blue in boxing and blues for cricket, Rugby, rowing and athletics and represented his State in cricket (1912-14), Rugby (1912-13) and athletics (Dunn Shield). In 1914 he was regarded by many as the best bowler in Australia and a certainty for the Australian team.
After graduation Massie joined the British-American Tobacco Co. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 17 August 1914, was commissioned second lieutenant, 4th Battalion, on 13 September and embarked for Egypt in October. Promoted lieutenant on 1 February 1915, he landed at Gallipoli on 25 April. Next day, acting on mistaken orders, his battalion advanced courageously but blindly towards Lone Pine and was decimated. When his commanding officer was killed, Massie carried the body towards their trenches but was turned back by Turkish fire. Wounded slightly on 25 June and 20 July and severely at Lone Pine on the night of 6-7 August, he was evacuated and in December declared unfit for active service for four months. For his service at Gallipoli he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the French Croix de Guerre. On 1 December, while returning to Australia, he was promoted captain..." - READ MORE LINK (adb.anu.edu.au)
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