Iven Giffard Mackay KBE CMG (1882-1966) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

MAJGEN Sir Iven Giffard Mackay KBE CMG

Born 7 Apr 1882 in Grafton, New South Wales (Australia)

Son of Isaac Mackay and Emily Frances (King) Mackay

Brother of Emilie Leoda Mackay and Helen Elizabeth Mackay

Husband of Marjorie Eveline (Meredith) Mackay — married 4 Sep 1914 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Father of Jean Margaret Eveline (Mackay) Millard, Iven John Mackay and [private daughter (1930s - unknown)]

Died 30 Sep 1966 at age 84 in East Lindfield, New South Wales, Australia

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Profile last modified 27 Jan 2024 | Created 7 May 2018

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1 Biography
2 Sources
3 See also

Biography

Iven Mackay KBE CMG is Notable.

Major General Sir Iven Giffard Mackay KBE CMG DSO & Bar VD BA LLD (Hons) was a senior Australian Army officer who served in both The Great War and Second World War. Having distinguished himself in the field, Mackay was appointed Australian High Commissioner to India, the last to hold that appointment. He was also a noted university lecturer and private school headmaster.

formative years

Iven Giffard Mackay was born on 7th April 1882 at Grafton, New South Wales (Australia). He was the son of Reverend Isaac Mackay and Emily Frances King.^[1] Iven was educated at Grafton Superior Public School, Newington College and the University of Sydney (BA, 1904). He taught physics at the university from 1910 until 1914. Iven had also been commissioned as an officer in the Militia.

On 4th September 1914 in St Phillip's Church of England (now Anglican Church), Sydney, Iven married Marjorie Meredith, daughter of Brigadier General Doctor John Meredith.^[2] They had three children, but not until after The Great War:

Jean Margaret (1919-)
Iven John (1920-89)
Alison (1930-)

the War to end all wars

Iven Mackay KBE CMG is an Anzac who served in World War One.

On 27th August 1914 as a Captain, Iven transferred to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for service overseas (eight days before his wedding!).^[3] Although his embarkation was delayed by a riding accident, he eventually caught up with his unit, the 4th Australian Infantry Battalion, in Egypt and landed with them on 25th April 1915 at Gallipoli. He distinguished himself in hand-to-hand fighting at the Battle of Lone Pine.

MAJGEN Sir Iven Mackay KBE CMG was wounded in action at Gallipoli during The Great War.

Wounded at Lone Pine, he was evacuated to Malta and thence to England. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his work at Gallipoli.^[4] In April 1916, he assumed command of the 4th Infantry Battalion on the Western Front and led it at the Pozières (July), Mouquet Farm (August), Bullecourt and Broodseinde. During the second battle of Bullecourt in May 1917, he held temporary command of the 1st Infantry Brigade. For his service in this period he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (1916) and a Bar to the DSO (1917) and again Mentioned in Despatches. He commanded the 1st Machine Gun Battalion from March 1918 and was promoted to Brigadier General in June 1918; leading the 1st Infantry Brigade at the Battle of Hazebrouck, the Battle of Amiens and in the attack on the Hindenburg Line.

CMG neck medal

He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for his conduct at Hazebrouck (June-July) and on the Somme (August-September),^[5] and was Mentioned in Despatches twice more.^[6] Iven was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal, as well as the French Croix de Guerre.

armistice

Iven returned to Australia and to his old job as a lecturer at the University of Sydney. From 1933 to 1940 he was headmaster of Cranbrook School, Sydney. The school constitution had to be altered for Iven, a Presbyterian, to hold office. In 1937 he was awarded the King George VI Coronation Medal. He remained in the Militia between the wars and was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration. Assuming command of the 2nd Division in March 1937, he was promoted to Major General and was thus one of the most senior officers in the army when the Second World War began in September 1939.

world war erupts a second time

Iven Mackay KBE CMG is a Military Veteran.
Served in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force 1939-1943
6th Division; Home Forces

Mackay was selected to command the 6th Australian Division, 2nd Australian Imperial Force (2AIF) in 1940^[7], and led it through the Australian Army's first battles of the Second World War in North Africa. In the short contest of rapid movement over considerable distances, Iven demonstrated careful planning; he also impressed others with the way he cared for his soldiers' lives. 'Not only do I want Tobruk quickly', he told his senior officers before the battle, 'but I ... want it cheaply'.

KBE neck medal

For his leadership, 'outstanding gallantry and efficiency', he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) on 4th March 1941.^[8] In the Battle of Greece, for which the Greek Government awarded him the War Cross First Class, he became the only Australian general to face the Waffen-SS in battle. In 1941 and 1942, at the direct request of the Federal Minister for Defence, Sir Iven was promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed to the specifically-designed role of General Officer Commanding Home Forces, to prepare for an anticipated invasion. With the war effort being fought as close as Papua and New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), Iven was given command of the Second Army and, later, New Guinea Force.

Iven was the last Australian High Commissioner to India

In November 1943, with the threat to Australia less imminent through great victories such as at Kokoda, Milne Bay and Guadalcanal (the United States), in recognition of his immense contribution Iven was appointed Australian High Commissioner to India, a position he took-up in January 1944. Of course, India was no further from the war than was Australia, with the Japanese pushing through Thailand (Siam) and Myanmar (Burma). At the conclusion of the war, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945. He retired from the Army in 1946 and was able to turn his attention to aspects of the position more related to diplomacy than military. He promoted trade between India and Australia, and fostered a plan for Indian students and technicians to study and train in Australia. Iven's term as High Commissioner finished in 1948, after India had gained her independence from the United Kingdom.

post-war

Now quite prominent in the public's eye, Sir Iven Mackay took up several directorates and chaired the New South Wales recruiting committee set up by the federal government to increase enlistment in the armed forces. He also became active in ex-servicemen's organisations. The University of Sydney appointed (1950) him honorary esquire bedell and conferred (1952) on him an honorary doctorate of laws. In 1952 he represented Australia at the unveiling in Athens of the British Commonwealth memorial to those who fell in the Greek campaign; he again visited that city in 1961 for the dedication of the Commonwealth war cemetery at Phaleron. In 1953 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. Iven busied himself, as an elder, in the affairs of his church, Scots Kirk, Mosman, New South Wales. His two younger sisters, Emilie and Helen, both single, lived nearby at Mosman and he 'kept an eye' on them.

He passed away, aged 84 years, on 30th September 1966 in his home at East Lindfield, New South Wales.^[9] Following a service in St Stephen's Presbyterian Church (now Uniting Church), Sydney, ten generals acted as pallbearers, several of whom he had worked quite closely with. Veterans lined the streets. Iven was survived by his wife and their three children, as well as one sister. Iven's name is listed on the Scots Kirk Roll of Honour.