THERE is no known image of James Mackie.
He is one of the Melbourne Football Club’s silent ghosts, the only visible tribute to him a poppy placed alongside his name at the memorial at Villers Bretonneux by David Dunbar, the Club’s Innovations Coach, on his visit to the Western Front in 2010.
It is, however, possible to build up a basic picture of the man and his life.
Son of James Robert and Margaret, James ‘Charlie’ Mackie, who played five games on the wing for Melbourne in 1913, came from Port Melbourne Railway United, as did his teammate of that season, William Angwin.
A broken collarbone put paid to Mackie’s time in red and blue, and he transferred to Port Melbourne in the VFA for two seasons, before enlisting in the Army.
At the time of his enlistment, Mackie lived at 383 Princess Street, Port Melbourne.
He was born on the last day of the year in 1889, and married to Edith Jane.
He was a Port Melbourne local, having grown up there, attended school in South Melbourne, and worked on the wharves.
It was a natural thing for many like Mackie to enlist. Service gave them a guaranteed income, whereas football and working on the wharves typically proved less certain.
Mackie served in the 21st Battalion, 14th Reinforcement, of the 1st AIF, leaving Melbourne with his fellow infantrymen on 28 July 1916, on HMAT A32 Themistocles.
Most of those with him were Victorians, with only a handful of interstaters sprinkled amongst the roll call.
After he disembarked at Plymouth in the UK in early September 1916, it was then onto France for Mackie, on the last day of 1916 - his birthday. Private Mackie was aged 27.
A letter was sent to his wife, Edith, in April 1917. She was, by this time, living in New South Wales, in what proved to be one of a number of shifts between the two states.
The letter advised her that, while the authorities did not know exactly what had happened, her husband - James Robert Mackie, just 5’6”, with blue eyes, brown hair and a vaccination scar on one arm - had been reported wounded.
They had no other details, but ‘It is not stated as being serious and in the absence of further reports, it is to be assumed that all wounded are progressing satisfactorily.’
Edith was not at all happy with these communications and asked to be informed further.
She was curtly told that she would be contacted when more information was available, and that note had been taken of her changed address.
The correct information presented itself in the most tragic of ways.
Mackie had been killed in action, in Bapaume, France, on 20 March 1917.
In the chaos of conflict on the Western Front, Mackie had been ‘presumed’ wounded, even as he was dead, one of thousands lost forever.
Part of Mackie’s pension was distributed to his children - Merna and James Robert Junior - but he did not leave a will.
Edith once again had to battle the authorities, this time for a copy of her late husband’s death certificate, which she needed to settle her own affairs.
It took more than five months for this request to be granted. In coming years, stamps would neatly register her receipt of the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
She also received a Memorial Plaque, and was sent an order form so that she could pay to be sent a copy of the register at the Villers Bretonneux Memorial.
It is here that Mackie, who wore No. 18 in his five games for Melbourne, is recorded, and remembered even today.
We may not have his image, but we treasure his life and memory.
He is one of the Melbourne Football Club’s silent ghosts, the only visible tribute to him a poppy placed alongside his name at the memorial at Villers Bretonneux by David Dunbar, the Club’s Innovations Coach, on his visit to the Western Front in 2010.
It is, however, possible to build up a basic picture of the man and his life.
Son of James Robert and Margaret, James ‘Charlie’ Mackie, who played five games on the wing for Melbourne in 1913, came from Port Melbourne Railway United, as did his teammate of that season, William Angwin.
A broken collarbone put paid to Mackie’s time in red and blue, and he transferred to Port Melbourne in the VFA for two seasons, before enlisting in the Army.
At the time of his enlistment, Mackie lived at 383 Princess Street, Port Melbourne.
He was born on the last day of the year in 1889, and married to Edith Jane.
He was a Port Melbourne local, having grown up there, attended school in South Melbourne, and worked on the wharves.
It was a natural thing for many like Mackie to enlist. Service gave them a guaranteed income, whereas football and working on the wharves typically proved less certain.
Mackie served in the 21st Battalion, 14th Reinforcement, of the 1st AIF, leaving Melbourne with his fellow infantrymen on 28 July 1916, on HMAT A32 Themistocles.
Most of those with him were Victorians, with only a handful of interstaters sprinkled amongst the roll call.
After he disembarked at Plymouth in the UK in early September 1916, it was then onto France for Mackie, on the last day of 1916 - his birthday. Private Mackie was aged 27.
A letter was sent to his wife, Edith, in April 1917. She was, by this time, living in New South Wales, in what proved to be one of a number of shifts between the two states.
The letter advised her that, while the authorities did not know exactly what had happened, her husband - James Robert Mackie, just 5’6”, with blue eyes, brown hair and a vaccination scar on one arm - had been reported wounded.
They had no other details, but ‘It is not stated as being serious and in the absence of further reports, it is to be assumed that all wounded are progressing satisfactorily.’
Edith was not at all happy with these communications and asked to be informed further.
She was curtly told that she would be contacted when more information was available, and that note had been taken of her changed address.
The correct information presented itself in the most tragic of ways.
Mackie had been killed in action, in Bapaume, France, on 20 March 1917.
In the chaos of conflict on the Western Front, Mackie had been ‘presumed’ wounded, even as he was dead, one of thousands lost forever.
Part of Mackie’s pension was distributed to his children - Merna and James Robert Junior - but he did not leave a will.
Edith once again had to battle the authorities, this time for a copy of her late husband’s death certificate, which she needed to settle her own affairs.
It took more than five months for this request to be granted. In coming years, stamps would neatly register her receipt of the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
She also received a Memorial Plaque, and was sent an order form so that she could pay to be sent a copy of the register at the Villers Bretonneux Memorial.
It is here that Mackie, who wore No. 18 in his five games for Melbourne, is recorded, and remembered even today.
We may not have his image, but we treasure his life and memory.
