Harry Mackey
Born 1 Dec 1914 - Died 19 Dec 2004
- Service number
- 39192 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Major/Military AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 1 Dec 1914 AWMM
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
- —
- Address before enlistment
- Native Development, Rotorua, New Zealand AWMM
- Native Development, Rotorua, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- Mr T. Mackey (father), Waiomatatini, East Coast, New Zealand AWMM
- Mr H. Walworth (foster father), Ruatoria, East Coast, New Zealand AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- 39192 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
28 Jan 1943 AWMM
During the attack on Point 29 on the night of 1/2 November 1942, Sgt. MacKey's platoon was leading on the right flank of his company, when intense fire was encountered coming the immediate front and right flank. Sgt. MacKey's platoon commander ordered him to attack and wipe out enemy posts on the right flank, with one section. By sheer gallant leadership he kept his men directed towards their objectives during the period of evacuation of the personnel of the NZ under intense machine-gun fire. By the time he had covered half the distance to the objective he had suffered heavily in dead and wounded but without faltering he pressed home his attack and completely annihilated several machine-gun and coolness, at all times set a standard which posts. His coolness, resourcefulness and heroic example was an inspiration to his men. (London Gazette 28/1/1943 (I)) The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Mackey, Harry. (Ref. WO 373/23/432). Military Medal.28 Jan 1943 AWMM - Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW2 Stationhand/Civilian AWMM
- WW2 Shepherd/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Second Echelon AWMM
- WW2 Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
Wounded 12 December 1944 AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Major/Military AWMM
28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Husband of Jean
Maj H. Mackey, MM; Ruatoria; born Waiomatatatini, 1 Dec 1914; shepherd; wounded 12 Dec 1944. (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p.435.)
'Meanwhile, shortly before dusk, 11 Platoon (Lieutenant Balzer) was pestered by a man in civilian clothes who, in Italian no better than that of the Maoris, said he was a deserter and asked to be taken prisoner. He went from post to post pleading to be put in the bag but the troops were too busy to bother with him. At last in desperation he emptied a sack he was carrying on to the ground and there were his uniform coat, trousers, and all the ‘trimmings’. His desires were then gratified and he was later identified as belonging to 7 Company, 278 Regiment, 305 Division.
The 22nd Battalion came into the line on the left of 23 Battalion and 5 Brigade then had three battalions up and 21 Battalion in reserve. Defences were strengthened by sandbagging the walls of the casa strongposts, a very necessary precaution in view of the fact that a shell penetrated the wall of C Company headquarters on the morning of 12 December and wounded Captain Mackey and two others. Lieutenant Mahuika then took command. Enemy gunners were trying to locate the battalion mortars whose attentions were evidently disliked, and as Battalion Headquarters was just behind the mortars there was a lot of work for the signallers in repairing lines.' (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. pp. 435, 436.) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 19 Dec 2004 AWMM
Age 89 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- —
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- Obituary: Mana, February 2005 : Page 11 AWMM
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- —
Sources
- External links
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
Sources Used - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington: Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy.
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210104000423/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Maor.html
Sources Used - 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945. Personal page.
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/memory/harry-mackey-carefree-shepherd-oc-c-coy
Further Reference - 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.' (London Gazette, 28 January 1943, p.526.). Military Medal.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35879/supplements/526
Further Reference - The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Mackey, Harry. (Ref. WO 373/23/432). Military Medal.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7360640
Further Reference
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
- References
- Soutar, M. (2008). Nga tama toa = The price of citizenship : C Company 28 (Maori) Battalion 1939-1945. Albany, N.Z.: David Bateman.
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 2 (Embarkations to 30th June, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 2: WW2 119 - Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 14 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1944 to 31st December, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 14: WW2 62 - Soutar, M. (2008). Nga tama toa = The price of citizenship : C Company 28 (Maori) Battalion 1939-1945. Albany, N.Z.: David Bateman.
- Soutar (2008), p. 391
- Mana : the Maori news magazine for all New Zealanders
Obituary: Mana, February 2005 : Page 11 - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
pp.435, 436.
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