William Anthony Bruce (1913)

Born 29 Jan 1913 in Waverley, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Valerie Maud (Cooper) Bruce — married 1950 in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

William Anthony Bruce MM was born in 1916 in Waverley, New South Wales, Australia. He was the son of WIlliam Bruce and Mary unknown. ^[1]

William Bruce is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 1939-1945
6th Division Signals Corps; 2/1st Infantry Battalion

On 21st October 1939 at Cremorne, New South Wales, William enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force for military service during the Second World War. He gave his date of birth as 29th January 1913. He was assigned to the 6th Division Signals Corps and seconded to the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion, with whom he saw action in North Africa, Greece-Crete, Papua, and New Guinea. He attained the junior non-commissioned rank of Corporal. ^[2]

He was awarded the Military Medal (MM) for 'great courage and devotion at Tobruk 21st January 1941'. The medal was presented to William at Government House Sydney by the Governor-General on 13th April 1946. ^[3][4]

He was demobilised after the war, on 13th October 1945. ^[2] He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945 and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945.

William married Valerie Cooper in 1950 in North Sydney. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #26287/1916; registered in Sydney
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs: NX4121 Corporal William Anthony Bruce; accessed 25 May 2021
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): Military Medal; accessed 29 Jan 2022
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Military Medal; accessed 25 May 2021
5. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #16728/1950