Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

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The final resting place for; - V82325 Captain Joseph Mackay of Glengower and South Melbourne who was employed as a bank clerk, and had already held a commission with the Citizens Military Forces prior to his application for a Commission with the 1st AIF on the 10th of October 1915.

Joseph was successful in his application and he was posted initially as a Second Lieutenant and was embarked with reinforcements for the 14th Battalion 1st AIF for Egypt and further training, departing Australia on the 23rd of November.

Following his arrival, Joseph was officially taken on strength with the 14th Battalion following the end of the Gallipoli campaign on the 4th of February 1916, and after a further course of Instruction, he was embarked for France on the 3rd of June 1916.

Joseph received multiple shrapnel wounds on the 3rd of July, and was evacuated to England for hospitalization, being admitted into the 3rd London General Hospital on the 8th of August following surgery in France.

After spending time in convalescence, Joseph was returned to his Battalion in the trenches by the start of October. Aside bouts of sickness, Joseph continued to serve, and on the 5th of February 1917 he had been officially promoted to Captain.

On the 31st of December, Joseph had arrived back in England where he was temporarily posted to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford. Captain Mackay was sent back to France where he re-joined his Battalion in the field on the 8th of August 1918, and was temporarily detached for service with the American Expeditionary Forces, re-joining his Unit on the 20th of August and was still with his Battalion when the War was ended in November.

Joseph returned to England on the 14th of March 1919, and began his repatriation back to Australia, and following his return his Appointment with the 1st AIF was terminated on the 31st of July 1919.

With the start of a second World War, Joseph again presented himself for service with the Australian Military Forces on the 18th of December 1939 and he was reappointed as a Captain on the 24th of December.

Captain Mackay would be retained on home duties, serving with Training establishments, and whilst on strength with the 6th Training Battalion, he was accidentally struck and killed by a car on the 25th of February 1942. Joseph was aged 47 at the time of his premature death.

Following his passing, whilst still on service with the Australian Military Forces, Captain Joseph Mackay, a veteran of two World Wars, was formally interred within Springvale War Cemetery, Victoria.

Known as ‘Joe’, Joseph Mackay was born in Bendigo, the only son of Rev. James Hannah and Mary Mackay.    Formerly of Bendigo, Rev Mackay had subsequently moved to the Clarendon St, (South Melbourne) Presbyterian Church.    Very few details are available for Joseph Mackay’s WW1 service as the record has been amalgamated with his WW2 Service documents.   It is known, however, that he was 21 years of age when he enlisted in 1915, and he was engaged in a Clerical profession.     He was appointed to the 12th Reinforcements for the 14th Battalion, with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.   He embarked for overseas on 23.11.15.

He disembarked in Egypt and joined the 14th Battalion.    The Battalion moved into position at the Suez Canal Defences (26.3.16) before embarking for France in June 1916. 

The Battalion occupied the Bois Grenadier Trenches on 2.7.16 and carried out raids on the German trenches on this and the following day.     The Germans carried out a counter raid at 10.23 pm on 3.7.16.    The War Diary records that the Germans opened with a terrific bombardment on the trench which completely flattened all the trenches.   This was followed by an enemy approach, some of whom had reached the parapet and jumped in, but they had been repulsed.    [paraphrase: War Diary 14th Bn]

“One of our ‘bays’ tenanted by Lieut J. Mackay and (4 others) had been hit by a shell during the bombardment, burying Mackay and Corporal Urie up to their shoulders in the debris.   The three privates, when endeavouring to release their comrades were surprised by the sudden appearance of the Germans, who bombed the pit, killing (one) and wounding (two) . . . .    They also endeavoured to drag out Mackay and Urie, but failing, threw five bombs at the helpless and imprisoned men, which fortunately failed to explode.   Both were subsequently released by their comrades.”      [Newton Wanliss: The History of the Fourteenth Battalion AIF, being the story of vicissitudes of an Australian unit during the Great War.]

Mackay sustained wounds to his arm, leg and chest and was admitted to hospital in England.   He re-joined the battalion on 27.9.16.     In 1917 he was promoted to the rank of Captain.    The battalion moved forward on the night of 16.9.18, and participated in the Battle of the Hindenburg Outpost Line on 18.9.18.    Joseph Mackay embarked forreturn to Australia on 1.5.19. 

In WW2 he again attested for service. (18.12.1939).   He was 45 years of age, lived in Elsternwick, and listed his occupation as Commercial Traveller.   He was not married and named his sister, Dr. Kate Mackay of Collins St, Melbourne, as his next-of-kin.    He served with ACMF, 6 Infantry Training Battalion, Service no.  V82325.    He died on 25.2.1942 from injuries and was buried in the Springvale War Cemetery, Vic.   (Section 1, Plot P,  Row C,   Grave no. 13)

“The Men Listed on the Roll of Honour, St John’s Presbyterian Church, Bendigo”: Larna Malone