1939 QLD GPS Head of the River

1st Church of England Grammar School - Bow: J. H. G. Murray 10st 0lb, 2: A. Bray 11.10, 3: J. S. Parkinson 13.0, Str: J. Mactaggart 11.3, Cox: D. P. Henry 7.10, Coach: Mr. J. A. Thompson 

2nd Brisbane Boys’ College - Bow: R. N. O’Reilly 10.0, 2: M. L. Armstrong 13.0, 3: L. G. Ricketts 13.0, Str: R. S. Chandler 10.11, Cox: D. A. Peterson 7.0 

2nd Brisbane State High School - Bow: J. Stedman 11.4, 2: O. Bobroff 12.7, 3: A. Grant Taylor 12.2, Str: J. Ralston 11.3, Cox: H. Field 7.2

4th The Southport School - Bow: L. R. Dixon 12.0, 2: T. M. Knox 12.0, 3: B. M. Geissman 12.6, Str: D. A. Fletcher 10.0, Cox: K. W. Stevenson 7.0 

5th Brisbane Grammar School - Bow: E. R. Crosier 10.0, 2: K. M. Gregor 11.8, 3: N. W. Campbell 11.4, Str: H. Bryan 10.8, Cox: F. D. Rutledge 6.10

1939 Church of England Grammar School First IV

Brisbane Boys' College Crew

“The starter, Mr. George Smoothey, got the firsts away in an excellent line. B.B.C., B.S.H.S and C.E.G.S. went to the front quickly leaving B.G.S and Southport a couple of yards behind after the first 50 yards had been covered. B.B.C. got to work in fine style a little later and after about 150 yards had been put behind they had a slight advantage over B.S.H.S with C.E.G.S little father back.

C.E.G.S improved considerably approaching the half mile mark and passing the ferry were a canvas ahead of State High and B.B.C., who were almost on terms. Southport too, was almost up with the leaders at this stage but were dropping back. B.G.S. were last. B.B.C. and B.G.H.S. crews were called upon for an extra effort shortly afterwards and they established a narrow lead. C.E.G.S. however were rowing well within themselves and hitting up the rating to 40 they slid into the lead from from B.B.C with B.S.H.S. running close third. T.S.S. and B.G.S. were well out of the race at this stage, battling along almost together lengths behind the leaders.

Approaching the finishing line C.E.G.S obviously had the race won, but B.B.C and B.S.H.S were still fighting out second place with B.B.C having a slight advantage. Over the last 50 yards B.S.H.S with a great burst drew level right on the line and the judges failed to separate them. Officially this pair were a length and a half behind C.E.G.S.. T.S.S. were nearly two lengths away in fourth place, with B.G.S. last.”

John Mactaggart had been a Prefect, Captain of Boats and stroke of the victorious Head of the River crew of 1939. He was also part of the successful School Rugby team that went undefeated that season.

In World War II, MacTaggart enlisted in the RAAF as a flying officer and tragically perished in Egypt on 18th August 1942 aged only twenty. Son of John Lacy Mactaggart and Marjorie Jane Gilmore Mactaggart of Ascot, Queensland, he was laid to rest at the Alexandria (Chatby) Military and war memorial Cemetery in the country he died serving his country.

His father was a veteran of World War I and had been a member of the School Council for about 20 years prior to his death in 1964. All three Mactaggart boys attended Churchie and were Captain of Boats in their final year.

In 1955,  Church of England Grammar School commemorated John MacTaggart by naming a boat in his honour. Below is an excerpt about the boat's christening from Churchie's 1955 School newsletter courtesy of Peter Jell:

"This beautiful N.S.W. regulation four, built by Towns, arrived soon after the School broke up. It had been on order for a very long time, but its beautiful shell of matched cedar bondwood was worth waiting for. We had planned for years to call this four after John Mactaggart, captain of the First crew of 1939. John was killed with the R.A.A.F. 

John Mactaggart's father and mother had planned to leave for England during the holidays so the launching ceremony was hurriedly arranged for 11th December, a Saturday morning. There assembled a small but very representative gathering of Old Boys, parents and friends and most of the crews of the school, to see Cannon W. P. F. Morris christen the four. It was also the last time we had Mr. P. A. Krebs with us at the boatshed.

Canon Morris spoke with great feeling of John Mactaggart as a boy, an oarsman, and a man who fearlessly offered at the call of duty. Canon Morris named the boat in the traditional fashion, and , launched over the new pontoon, she was rowed away an Old Boys' crew made up of two brothers of John Mactaggart and two of his cousins."

1st Church of England Grammar - Bow: D. Lee-Warner 11.4, 2: J. Whittle 11.9, 3: R. Hoskins 12.10, Str: K. Shaw 11.0, Cox: J. F. Bourne 7.0

2nd Brisbane Boys’ College - Bow: E. R. Staffsmith 9.7, 2: G. Ricketts 10.7, 3: D. R. Menogue 10.6, Str: R. Berglind 10.2, Cox: N. S. Whitehead 7.0

2nd Brisbane State High School - Bow: V. Zaccour 10st 0lb, 2: K. Brown 10.12, 3: H. Widdop 10.9, Str: P. Winterflood 9.12, Cox: R. Parry 7.4

4th The Southport School - Bow: R. C. Wehl 9.8, 2: S. B. Anderson 9.9, 3: J. L. Young 11.0, Str: W. L. Atherton 10.2, Cox: E. H. Cardnow 7.0

5th Brisbane Grammar School - Bow: K. E. Jones 9.1, 2: W. K. Watson 10.8, 3: R. A. Henderson 11.11, Str: P. H. G. Oxley 10.10, Cox: A. R. Bialse 7.7

Brisbane Boys' College's Senior Crews:

“The five second crews got away well, except that Southport were about two feet behind. C.E.G.S., rating at 41, were the first to show out, while Southport showed early signs of being left during the race. After a little over 100 yards, B.S.H.S, were on terms with C.E.G.S., then coming B.B.C., B.G.S., and Southport. B.S.H.S and C.E.G.S. drew away from the others, and set up a lead of about half a length approaching the half mile mark.

It was close racing between State High, C.E.G.S. and B.B.C. and at the ferry C.E.G.S. had worked into a lead of half a length from B.S.H.S with B.B.C. a close third. T.S.S were next, with B.G.S., rowing very raggedly, a bad last. Just after passing the ferry, State High went to pieces and stopped rowing to pick up timing again. By the time they had settled down once more, C.E.G.S., had gained a big lead, and B.B.C had run into second place. 

C.E.G.S went on to win very comfortably by two lengths from B.S.H.S with B.B.C a length and a half farther away in third place. Southport were half a length away in fourth place, leading B.G.S by half a length.”

1st Brisbane Boys’ College - Bow: R. Winterbotham 9st 12lbs, 2: E. J. Carter 11st 3lbs, 3: C. J. Minty 11st 5lbs, Str: D. G. Hinwood 10st 9lbs, Cox: B.B. Ledlie 7st 

2nd Church of England Grammar School - Bow: J. J. Stumm, 2: Bowly, 3: R. R. Stephens, Str: I. H. Cross, Cox: D. Friend, Coach: M. A. Mattingley

The Race Described 

“The crews got away well, B.B.C. securing an early lead over C.E.G.S.. At the ferry C.E.G.S. went to the front and seemed to have the race well in hand when B.B.C. put in a magnificent spurt to head C.E.G.S. by a length.”