Jack Mackey

John Bernard Mackey
John Mackey
Born	(1922-05-16)16 May 1922 Leichhardt, Australia
Died	12 May 1945(1945-05-12) (aged 22) Tarakan, Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies
Buried	Labuan War Cemetery
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Second Australian Imperial Force
Years of service	1940–45
Rank	Corporal
Unit	2/3rd Pioneer Battalion
Battles/wars	Second World War Syria–Lebanon Campaign North African Campaign Second Battle of El Alamein Pacific War New Guinea Campaign Borneo Campaign Battle of Tarakan †
Awards	Victoria Cross

John Bernard Mackey, VC (16 May 1922 – 12 May 1945) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British Commonwealth forces. Mackey was one of twenty Australians to receive the award for actions during the Second World War, receiving his award posthumously for leading an attack on against a strongly defended Japanese position during the Battle of Tarakan in May 1945. He was 22 and serving as a corporal in the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion at the time of his death.