His father, Johannes Albert Rattey, who was originally from Springton, South Australia had married his mother, Anna Elisabeth (née Damschke),[Note 2] at Pleasant Hills on 26 February 1914.

[4] In his formative years, Reg was schooled at Bellarwi, travelling by horse 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) each way, and was a keen sportsman playing cricket, football and tennis.

[2] After leaving school, he helped out on the family farm, and found work as a miner; he also joined the Militia, serving as a part-time soldier in the 21st Light Horse Regiment.

[8] Two days after this action, Rattey was promoted to sergeant,[2][5] and the following month his battalion was relieved shortly after holding off a large-scale Japanese attack during the Battle of Slater's Knoll.

In March 1946, he returned to the Army, being granted the rank of sergeant to attend the Victory Parade in London, where he was presented his Victoria Cross by King George VI at Buckingham Palace.

Emily died in 1954 and the following year he remarried, exchanging nuptials with Aileen Delaney at St Mary's Catholic Church, in West Wyalong; the couple would later have four children.

[1][4] Rattey expanded his property at Lake Cowal by an extra 783 acres (317 ha), and eventually worked the land with sheep, cattle, pigs and wheat.

He died on 10 January 1986 as a result of emphysema and was given a full military funeral at St Mary's Catholic Church, before being interred at the West Wyalong Lawn Cemetery.