Reg Rattey Reginald Roy Rattey VC ( 28 March 1918 – 10 January 1986 ) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest award for gallantry " in the face of the enemy " that can be awarded to members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces . Early life . Reginald Roy Rattey , born on 28 March 1918 , at Barmedman , a small rural community midway between Wyalong and Temora , 457 kilometres south - west of Sydney , was the third of seven children of a Lutheran couple , Johannes Albert Rattey of Springton , South Australia , born of Eden Valley , share farmer and his Munyabla New South Wales born wife Anna Elisabeth ( née Damschke ) who were married at Pleasant Hills on 26 February 1914 . As an eighteen - year - old Johannes had undertaken the six - week journey travelling from the Eden Valley in South Australia to Temora , New South Wales with an uncle in a horse - drawn wagon . Then with only a bicycle for transport and a tent for accommodation he set about earning his living fencing , clearing land , harvesting wheat , shearing sheep and trapping rabbits . At the time of Reg ’ s birth the then thirty one year old Johannes was share - farming for a solicitor Mr . M T Farrell , three years later he purchased " Pine Lodge " near Wargin , on the Barmedman to Rankins Springs Railway line , to which he later added " Bon Accord " , these two properties totalling 1672 acres . Reg and his siblings attended the small one teacher school at Bellarwi travelling the six and a half km to and from school in a sulky pulled by the family ’ s pony ‘ Podge ’ . After school and at weekends he helped with the work on the family farm and for recreation regularly played tennis . During the depression it became necessary for Reg and his elder brothers to find work away from the family property . Reg was working at the Gibsonvale Open Cut Tin Mine at Kikoira and was a member of the part - time Citizens Forces the 21st Light Horse Regiment at Wagga Wagga , under the command of Lieutenant Alexander when war broke out . Victoria Cross Citation . On 26 July 1945 , Rattey was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Buin Road in South Bougainville on 22 March . The 25th Battalion were ordered to capture a Japanese stronghold following an allied air and artillery attack . After determining that an attack by his section would likely incur many casualties , he single - handedly attacked three Japanese weapons bunkers with his Bren gun . After eliminating one of the bunkers with a grenade , he returned to his section through enemy fire to obtain two more grenades and returned to destroy two more enemy 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 with 2000 ammunition rounds before advancing further . After The War . Rattey died 10 January 1986 due to emphysema and was given a full military funeral at St Mary ’ s Catholic Church , West Wyalong . Honours and awards . In addition to The Victoria Cross , Reg received the 1939 / 45 Service Star , Pacific Star , 1939 / 45 King George VI War Medal , Australian Service Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II . Silver Jubilee Medal .