Leather wristband to hold whistle : Major I G Mackay, 4 Battalion AIF Accession Number: REL/07581.003

Description

Leather wristband to hold a whistle, leaving the bearer's hands free. The wristband has one narrow end with six holes for size adjustment, but is otherwise approximately 30 mm in width, with a narrow nickel-steel buckle for closure. A leather loop, stitched to the wristband, keeps the whistle in place.

Contextual Description

Whistle used by Major (later Lieutenant General Sir Iven) Mackay in the attack on Lone Pine by 4 Battalion AIF, on 6 August, 1915. In 1921, when donating this item to the Australian War Memorial, Mackay wrote, 'The whistle and watch were used by me (then Major) to signal the charge of A Co. 4th Bn. A.I.F. at Lone Pine at 5.30p.m. on 6th Aug. 1915. All watches, including this one, which only arrived from Cairo the day before, were synchronised during the 6th at various times. Our preparatory bombardment lasted from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. (27 guns) & the signal for the charge was three blasts on the whistle. I was wounded on the night of Aug. 6 & again early on Aug. 7 & evacuated to Malta & thence to England & the whistle & watch were not used again.' Iven Giffard Mackay was born at Grafton, NSW in 1882. A keen member of the militia, he was commissioned in 26 Infantry Battalion in 1913, and at the outbreak of war volunteered for the AIF. He was appointed Captain and adjutant of 4 Battalion, but, injured in a riding accident, he did not embark with his unit, sailing instead with 13 Battalion. Once in Egypt, he returned to 4 Battalion as Transport Officer, a position which prevented him from participating in the Gallipoli landings. He finally reached Anzac in May, to help make good the battalion's heavy officer casualties, and by August had been promoted to Major and given command of A Compay. Mackay led this company at Lone Pine, and was in the thick of the fighting. He was twice wounded, and eventually evacuated to England, not rejoining his unit until after the evacuation. In France, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and took command of 4 Bn. He was appointed to command 1 Machine Gun Battalion in early 1918, and in June was promoted Brigadier General, commanding 1 Brigade. Mackay served again in the Second World War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant General. He died in 1966.