Sergeant Walter Gordon Mackley

by Lenore Frost

Walter Gordon Mackley was born in Ascot Vale in 1897, the son of George and Emma, nee Heward.  He attended Ascot Vale Primary School where he participated in Junior Cadets and Senior Cadets in  Area 58B (Ascot Vale).    After leaving school he did a three year carpentry apprenticeship with the Victorian Railways.

Walter was able to persuade his father to write a letter of permission for him to join the AIF on 19 June 1915, aged 18 years and seven months. He was assigned to the 10th Reinforcements of the 2nd Field Artillery Battalion, and probably trained at the Artillery establishment in Maribyrnong prior to embarking for overseas service on 22 September 1915. 

Walter's service record is not definitive about whether he spent time on the Gallipoli Peninsula, but more than likely he did further training in Egypt while the end of the Gallipoli campaign was fought.   on 8 January 1816 Walter was attached to 5th Battery at Tel El Kebir. He went absent without leave from 9 pm 22 January to 23 January, for which he received 5 days' Field Punishment No 2.  This was very probably in company with others, and doesn't seem to have had any effect on his subsequent rise in rank.

Part of the tent city training camp at Tel-el-Kebir, which houses 40,000 troops.

AWM CO4757.   http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C04757

The AIF was being reorganised in this period, and on 27 February 1916 Walter was transferred to 5 Division Artillery, and on 10 March he was appointed to 49 Battery, 13 Field Artillery Brigade.  Over the next two months, Walter received a number of promotions, from Gunner, to Bombadier, to Temporary Corporal (at Moascar), Corporal (at Ferry Post), and finally Sergeant on 14 May 1916, again at Ferry Post.  

Training over,  on 16 June 1916 Walter embarked on the Tunisia in Alexandra, and disembarked seven days later at Marseilles.  The next entry on Walter's service record reported his death in action on 16 November 1916.  The Brigade spent July in Cordonnerie, and the moved in August to Armentieres where it remained until 8 November when it moved its position.

Lieutenant McHenry from his unit described Walter's death to Vera Deakin of the Australian Red Cross:

"I happened to be with Mackley when he was killed, we were moving up to a new position behind High Wood.  A 5.9 came over and got us at the cross roads killing two men and wounding 11 others and some horses.  Mackley was hit in the back by a piece just below the lung and died in my arms.  He was unconscious when I picked him up immediately after the explosion to bring him into cover and did not regain consciousness, dying about 3 minutes after he was hit.  We had a big party of horses and men with us and I busied myself then with getting them away from the spot which the Hun was still shelling.  Stretcher bearers were with Mackley, I forget from which battalion, and when I returned all our wounded men and Sgt Mackley's body had been removed.  A few days later I visited Field Ambulances and two cemeteries endeavoring to find his grave but was unsuccessful.  The OC Batty informed his next of kin in due course.  There can be no doubt as to the identity of Mackley as he was in the unit since its formation, coming into it as batman to Lieut. Kennett whose wife has spoken of his death to Mackley's sister in Australia.

The Unit War Diary recorded the movements and casualties of the 13 Field Artillery Brigade:

En Route
14.11.16
CO and Battery Commanders and two Specialists from Head Qrs and Batteries sent on to relieve 1st DA at LONGUEVAL.  Left at 8 am and arrived at 10 pm in a motor bus.  Brigade moved to Bonway, left at 5.30 am and arrived at Bonway at 2.30 pm.  Billets only fair.  Weather fine

En Route
15.11.16  CO and Battery Commanders reconnoitred positions and taking over 1st Australian Field Artillery Troop from CO, first Field Artillery Brigade.  These positions are semi-covered and very muddy.  Shell Holes filled with liquid mud make the approaches very difficult. At 4 pm CO 15 FAB arrived to take over Group B Co.  15 FAB also arrived to take over from 2nd FA Batteries.  Left Bonway at 7.30 am for Artillery Camp K2 b near MORLAN COURT.  Arrived at 4 pm.  ROUTE taken VIA HEILLY, BURE, VILLE.  Weather dull, Brigade moved off at 12.30 am for MAMETZ and arrived at 4.30 am and the Brigade took over Wagon Lines of the 1st Australian FAB.  

16.11.16
Gunners moved up to Battery Position, on the Route up the following Casualties occurred.  49th Bty, Sergeant W G Mackley (killed), Sergeant F A Renshaw and 5 others with 4 horses.  Guns were  taken over to 15th FAB.  CO returned to Wagon Lines. MO & Adjutant and Head of Staff took over from 1st FAB.  CO 15 FAB took over command but 13 FAB Head Qrs never arrived in the Lines with him, as 15 FAB had not arrived yet.

Map of the Somme battlefield, 1916, showing the frontline before the three

major offensives of 1 & 14 July and 18 November 1916. Based on a map from A Short Military

History of World War I - Atlas, edited by T. Dodson Stamps and Vincent J. Esposito,

1950.  Source:  Wikipedia.

Two days after Walter's death, the third and last phase of  Battle of the Somme came to an end.  The British and French advanced about 6 miles (9.7 km), on a front of 16 miles (26 km) at a cost of 419,654 British and 202,567 French casualties against 465,181 German casualties. 

Walter was mourned by his family, many of whom had also served in the war, and left behind a sweetheart, Vera Jordan, who was probably the brother of his friend Clarrie Jordan who served with the Australian Army Medical Corps.

SOURCES

AWM  - Australian Red Cross Missing and Wounded Enquiry Bureau Files

AWM4 - First World War Diaries - Sub-class 13/40 Headquarters, 13th Australian Field Artillery Brigade

NAA. B2455 First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

Wikipedia. Battle of the Somme. Viewed 28/9.2013

Australian Red Cross Missing and Wounded Enquiry Bureau Files

Mackley, W G, Sergeant 5319
Killed 16.11.16

I saw him killed by a shell which wounded seven others and killed him.  It was out in the open on the road near High Wood near Gueudecourt.  He was buried by some Tommies and one of our officers Lt McHenry saw his grave.  He was only about 18 or 19.  His people are in England.  He was very much liked and the boys were all very sorry.  He got his Sgt stripes in Egypt.

Witness
J T Fletcher, 737
49 Batty,
Harefield W15

Mackley and a gun crew were on their way to take over a Batty position near the cross roads below Highwood to the left of Flers on Nov 16th 1916.  A shell burzst near them and a fragment of shell entered Mackley's chest.  He did not speak after being wounded and died soon after in the arms of Lieut McHenry (Right Sec. commander)  I saw Mackley fall but did not see him afterwards.  Any further particulars here given obtained from Lieut McHenry and No 1987 Dvr J McCaig (49 Batty AFA) who were both eye witnesses of his death.  I do not know where he was buried.  He was about 5' 8", slight, fair complexion.  About 20 years.
Witness
Dvr G V Pascoe, 2423
16th Bgde, 49 Batty, AFA
Perham Downs Camp.

He was in my Bgde the 13th - my Sgt.  Had been with him since Egypt and knew him very well.  1st Lieut McHenry MC told me that he picked up Mackley himself when he was badly wounded by shell and that he died in his arms.  He can give full details of Death and Burial.  I left France on May 11th.  I was batman to 1st Lieut T M Kennett who I know has written details to Mackley's mother in Essendon, Melbourne
Witness
B L Churchill, 201
16th Bgde, 49th Batty, AFA
28.7.17


I happened to be with Mackley when he was killed, we were moving up to a new position behind High Wood.  A 5.9 came over and got us at the cross roads killing two men and wounding 11 others and some horses.  Mackley was hit in the back by a piece just below the lung and died in my arms.  He was unconscious when I picked him up immediately after the explosion to bring him into cover and did not regain consciousness, dying about 3 minutes after he was hit.  We had a big party of horses and men with us and I busied myself then with getting them away from the spot which the Hun was still shelling.  Stretcher bearers were with Mackley, I forget from which battalion and when I returned all our wounded men and Sgt Mackley's body had been removed.  A few days later I visited Fiend Ambulances and two cemeteries endeavoring to find his grave but was unsuccessful.  The OC Batty informed his next of kin in due course.  There can be no doubt as to the identity of Mackley as he was in the unit since its formation, coming into it as batman to Lieut. Kennett whose wife has spoken of his death to Mackley's sister in Australia.

Letter from R W McHenry, Lieut
49th Battery.
London 2.7.17


Lieut R W McHenry,
49th Battn, AIF
BEF
Dear Sir,
We have to thank you very much for your letters of June 15th in answer to our enquiry concerning:-
5319 Sgt W G Mackley, 49th Batty, AFA
The information you have sent will be of great value to our enquirers as you were and (sic) eye-witness of his death and we can assure them, through you, that his death was practically instantaneous, which is always a comfort to the relations.  With repeated thanks,
Yours faithfully
Vera D[eakin]
Secretary


I knew casualty.  He was a short man, slightly built, dark complexion, full face, about 20 years of age, known as "Mac".  Casualty was going up to the batte4ry position on the Somme near Highwood.  He was dismounting from his horse when an HE shell exploded in the centre of the party killing casualty almost instantly.  he only said, "I am done", and died.  I was 10 yds away from Casualty at the time of his death.  His chief wounds were about the body and head.  I do not know if casualty was ever buried.

Pte W McIntosh
No 1035, 13th FAB.
Private address
Nambour
North Coast Line
Queensland
TCF
12/7/18

He was brought from Gun Valley and buried at Guillemont, I recognised him when he was brought in. Knew him well.  I saw his grave and it was  marked with a small cross and written with a blue pencil, his name, number and battalion.  Well built 5'9" or thereabouts, fair complexion, clean shaven, age about 237.
Witness Bombdr S Bebbington, 1848
5th DAC
3rd Aust Aux Hopl
Dartford

London 9.7.17

Extracts from Mackley's file:

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/1drl0428/2/166/1/1drl-0428-2-166-1-19.pdf