Sgt Reginald R. Rattey
Australian Army, 25th Infantry Battalion

Background
Reginald Roy Rattey was born March 28, 1917as one of seven children born to parents Johannes Albert  Rattey and Anna Elisabeth (née Damschke) Rattey in Barmedman, New South Wales in Australia. Nicknamed "Reg". He attended school in Bellarwi and played cricket, football and tennis. After graduation, he helped on the family farm and found work as a miner. Rattey also joined the Militia and served as a part-time soldier assigned to the 21st Light Horse Regiment. At the start of World War II, he was working at the Gibsonvale Open Cut Tin Mine at Kikoira. In 1940, Reg played rugby league for Barmedman in the Maher Cup.

Wartime History
On Septemer 24, 1941 mobilised for full-time service in the the Australian Army with service number NX700427 (later N200461 then NX102964) with the 21st Light Horse redesignated as the 21st Reconnaissance Battalion. Rattey served as a Bren carrier driver then a driver-mechanic in Australia. In July 1942 he volunteered for overseas service as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. Assigned t the 3rd Division carrier company and then the 11th Division. During September 1943 sent overseas to New Guinea and was promoted to the rank of corporal and during April 1944 returned to Australia.

During June 1944 assigned to the 25th Infantry Battalion and returned to New Guinea. In November 1944 deployed to Torokina on Bougainville. In late December fought in the Battle of Pearl Ridge before joining the southern drive in early 1945. By March they had crossed the Puriata River and begun moving inland towards a position known as Slater's Knoll.

On March 22, 1945 after an air and artillery bombardment, Cpl Rattey and his section were ordered to attack Japanese positions across the Buin Road near Buin on southern Bougainville. Corporal Rattey believed a frontal assault by his section would result in many casualties, he single-handedly assaulted three Japanese bunkers armed with a Bren gun and grenades on Buin Road near Buin. After eliminating one of the bunkers with a grenade, he returned to his section through enemy fire for two more grenades then returned to destroy two more bunkers. Shortly after this, his section advanced and encountered further Japanese machine gun fire. Rattey again launched a solo attack on an enemy gun position, killing one, injuring another and causing the remaining gun crew to retreat. The section captured the Japanese machine gun plus 2,000 rounds before advancing further. For his actions, he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) on July 26, 1945. Two days later promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Victoria Cross Citation (London Gazette: 26 July 1945) "In the South-West Pacific, on 22 March 1945 a company of the 25th Australian Infantry Battalion was ordered to capture a strongly held enemy position astride Buin Road, South Bougainville. The attack was met by extremely heavy fire from advanced enemy bunkers, slit trenches and foxholes sited on strong ground and all forward movement was stopped with casualties mounting rapidly among our troops. Corporal Rattey quickly appreciated that the serious situation delaying the advance could only be averted by silencing enemy fire from automatic weapons in bunkers, which dominated all the lines of approach by our troops. He calculated that a forward move by his section would be halted by fire with heavy casualties and he determined that a bold rush by himself alone would surprise the enemy and offered the best chance for success. With amazing courage he rushed forward firing his Bren gun from the hip into the openings under the head cover of three forward bunkers. This completely neutralised enemy fire from these positions. On gaining the nearest bunker he hurled a grenade among the garrison, which completely silenced further enemy aggressive action. Corporal Rattey was now without grenades but without hesitation he raced back to his section under extremely heavy fire and obtained grenades with which he again rushed the remaining bunkers and effectively silenced all opposition by killing seven of the enemy garrison. This led to the flight of the remaining enemy troops, which enabled his Company to continue its advance. A little later the advance of his Company was again held up by a heavy machine-gun firing across the front. Without hesitation Corporal Rattey rushed the gun and silenced it with fire from his Bren gun used from his hip. When one had been killed and another wounded, the remainder of the enemy gun-crew broke and fled. The machine-gun and 2,000 rounds of ammunition were captured and the Company again continued its advance, and gained its objective, which was consolidated. The serious situation was turned into a brilliant success, entirely by the courage, cool planning and stern determination of Corporal Rattey. His bravery was an incentive to the entire Company, who fought with inspiration derived from the gallantry of Corporal Rattey, despite the stubborn opposition to which they were subjected."

Postwar
After returning to Australia, hospitalized with malaria and then briefly toured to raise money for the Australian Comfort Fund. On October 31, 1945 discharged from the Australian Army and became a farmer a 2,400 acre property granted to him under a special lease in the vicinity of Lake Cowal, near West Wyalong, NSW. During March 1946, he returned to the Army to attend the Victory Parade in London, where he was presented his Victoria Cross by King George VI at Buckingham Palace. In September 1946 again discharged and returned to ranching and farming at Lake Cowal. In 1948, Rattey married Emily Café, with whom he had one daughter. Emily died in 1954 and the following year he married Aileen Delaney and the couple had four children.

Memorials
Rattey died January 10, 1986 at age 68 due to emphysema. He had funeral with full military honors at St Mary's Catholic Church then was buried at West Wyalong General Cemetery in West Wyalong, NSW at plot LAW-20-520. He also has a memorial marker in The New South Wales Garden of Remembrance in Rookwood, NSW.

References
WW2 Nominal Roll - Cpl Reginald Roy Rattey
FindAGrave - Reginald Roy Rattey (photo, grave photo)
FindAGrave - Reginald R Rattey (memorial marker photo)

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