Reginald Roy Rattey

Reginald Roy Rattey VC (28 March, 1917–10 January, 1986) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC) — the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to Commonwealth of Nations forces — during World War II.

Rattey was a Corporal in the 25th Battalion, a Militia unit in the Australian Army when he was awarded the VC. The battalion was part of Australian II Corps, during the Bougainville campaign.

On 22 March 1945, during the Battle of Slater's Knoll, an attack by a company of Australian infantry on a strongly held Japanese position on the main road to Buin was met by extremely heavy fire. Corporal Rattey, realizing that any advance would be halted by this fire and heavy casualties inflicted, dashed forward firing his Bren gun from the hip and completely neutralised the enemy fire from three forward bunkers. Then, having silenced a bunker with one grenade, he fetched two more with which he silenced the other two bunkers. The company was then able to continue its advance. Later Corporal Rattey captured another machine-gun and 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

He later achieved the rank of Sergeant.

There is now street named after him in the town of West Wyalong, where he spent much of his life after being born nearby.

External links

* [http://www.awm.gov.au/honours/honours/person.asp?p=NX102964 Australian War Memorial page]
* [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-vc/rattey-vc.htm Corporal Reginald Roy Rattey VC] - page with detailed biography and photos