Wikipedia:Today's featured article/March 6, 2016
Iven Mackay (1882–1966) was a senior Australian Army officer who saw action in both World Wars. He served with the 4th Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli, distinguishing himself in hand-to-hand fighting at the Battle of Lone Pine. On the Western Front, he assumed command of the 4th Battalion in 1916 and led the 1st Infantry Brigade in 1918. After the war he studied physics at the University of Cambridge under Ernest Rutherford. He remained in the Militia between the wars, and was a major general by the time the Second World War broke out. He commanded the 6th Division through the Australian Army's first battles of the war. During the Battle of Bardia in 1941, the 6th Division captured the fortified town along with 36,000 Italian prisoners; Mackay was knighted for this success. In the Battle of Greece, he became the only Australian general to face the Waffen-SS in battle. He was recalled to Australia in 1941, commanding the Home Forces and New Guinea Force as a lieutenant general. His active service ended in 1943 with his appointment as High Commissioner to India. (Full article...)
Part of the Command in the South West Pacific Area featured topic.