RATTEY, Reginald Roy
| Service Number: | NX700427 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 September 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 25 Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Barmedan, New South Wales, Australia, 28 March 1918 |
| Home Town: | Barmedman, Bland, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Bellarwi Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Emphysema, West Wyalong, New South Wales, Australia, 10 January 1986, aged 67 years |
| Cemetery: |
West Wyalong General Cemetery, New South Wales Memorial ID - 11498106 |
| Memorials: | Campbell Sergeant Reginald Rattey V.C. Memorial Park, Keith Payne VC Memorial Park, North Bondi War Memorial, West Wyalong Reginald Rattey V.C. Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 24 Sep 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, NX700427 | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, NX700427, 25 Infantry Battalion AMF |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Rattey, Reginald Roy (1917–1986)
by Anthony Staunton
Reginald Roy Rattey, soldier, was born on 28 March 1917 at Barmedman, New South Wales, third of seven children of Lutheran parents Johannes Albert Rattey, a South Australian-born farmer, and his wife Elizabeth Annie, née Damschke, who was born in New South Wales. Educated at Bellarwi Public School, Reginald enjoyed playing cricket, football and tennis. He worked on his father’s farm and as a miner, and served with a part-time Militia unit, the 21st Light Horse Regiment. Mobilised for full-time service on 24 September 1941, the regiment was later designated the 21st Reconnaissance Battalion. On 10 July 1942 Rattey volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force, joining the Queensland Lines of Communication Area. A year later he transferred to the 3rd Division Carrier Company and in September 1943 was sent to New Guinea, where he became an acting corporal. When he returned to Australia in April 1944, his rank of corporal was confirmed and in June he joined the 25th Infantry Battalion that was posted to New Guinea in July.
In Bougainville from November, the battalion saw action at several locations and from 19 March to 5 April 1945 was involved in bitter fighting for Slater’s Knoll, adjacent to the Puriata River. On 22 March, supported by air strikes and artillery fire, the battalion attacked entrenched Japanese positions but enemy fire halted the advance. Rattey, having decided that a bold rush offered the best prospect of success, led his section forward firing a Bren gun from the hip until he was on top of the nearest Japanese weapon-pit. He flung in a grenade and silenced the position. Then, using the same tactics, he silenced two more weapon-pits. A short time later the advance was once more held up and Rattey, still carrying his Bren gun, again ran straight towards the Japanese machine-gun post killing one man, wounding another and putting the rest to flight. Two days later he was promoted to acting sergeant and in July was awarded the Victoria Cross. Following hospitalisation with malaria, he arrived back in Australia in October. He was discharged at the end of the month on compassionate grounds.
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https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rattey-reginald-roy-14289 (adb.anu.edu.au)
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