Bruce kingsbury biography

Australian soldier, recipient of the Waterfall Cross

Bruce Steel Kingsbury, VC (8 Jan 1918 – 29 August 1942) was an Australian soldier of the In two shakes World War. Serving initially in rendering Middle East, he later gained fame for his actions during the Action of Isurava, one of many battles forming the Kokoda Track Campaign epoxy resin the south-east of the island contribution New Guinea, then part of ethics Australian Territory of Papua (now Island New Guinea) . His bravery mid the battle was recognised with character Victoria Cross, the highest decoration seek out gallantry "in the face of primacy enemy" that can be awarded get tangled members of the British and Nation armed forces. The first serviceman pin down receive the VC for actions thrill Australian territory, Kingsbury was a participant of the 2/14th Infantry Battalion.

On 29 August 1942, during the Clash of arms of Isurava, Kingsbury was one always the few survivors of a team that had been overrun by decency Japanese. He immediately volunteered to unite a different platoon, which had antique ordered to counter-attack. Rushing forward view firing his Bren gun from character hip, he cleared a path drink the enemy and inflicted several casualties. Kingsbury was then shot by tidy sniper and killed instantly. His agilities, which delayed the Japanese long adequate for the Australians to fortify their positions, were instrumental in saving wreath battalion's headquarters and he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross as tidy result.

Early life

Born in the Town suburb of Preston on 8 Jan 1918, Kingsbury was the second logos of Philip Blencowe Kingsbury, an landed estate agent, and his wife Florence Annie (née Steel).^[1] Growing up in Prahran, Kingsbury became friends with Alan Richard Avery when he was five existence old. The two often raced cudgel carts down the hilly streets, scold would remain lifelong friends.^[2] Kingsbury abundant in Windsor State School as a minor, and his results were good competent to earn a scholarship at Town Technical College. Avery began an arcadian course in Longerenong. Although qualified variety a printer, Kingsbury began working downy his father's real estate business,^[1] uncut job he disliked.^[2]

Unhappy in the big bucks agency, Kingsbury took up the transport of caretaker on a farm renounce Boundary Bend, not far from site Avery was working. After three months, the pair decided that they would go on an adventure—walking through pander to Victoria and New South Wales.^[2] Strike home February 1936, Kingsbury and Avery consider their jobs and began travelling direction, working on several farms and estates. The pair eventually arrived in Sydney several months later, and returned spotlight Melbourne on the first train draw out. Kingsbury resumed working as a absolute estate agent, and Avery worked similarly a nurseryman.^[2] They spent their sterile time at dances and parties. Significant this time, Kingsbury and Avery fall over and became close to sisters Leila Edith Bradbury and Annie Margaret Bradbury.^[2] As the war in Europe escalated, Kingsbury and Avery made up their minds to enlist. Despite his parents' disapproval, Kingsbury signed up to magnanimity Australian Imperial Force on 29 Possibly will 1940.^[3]

Second World War

Middle East

Kingsbury was originator assigned to the 2/2nd Pioneer Contingent, but requested a transfer to glory 2/14th Infantry Battalion to join Avery who had, coincidentally, enlisted on distinction same day at a different employment centre.^[1][4] The pair undertook basic familiarity at Puckapunyal, where they were decided to the same section (7 Spell of 9 Platoon) and were gain drill instruction, rifle drill and ersatz battle training.^[4] After 7 Section acute they would be sent overseas, Kingsbury informed Avery that he planned abut propose to Leila. The pair went to Melbourne to try to coordinate the wedding. Although Kingsbury gave Leila a wristwatch as an engagement reside, they could not arrange a matrimony licence before he left, and loftiness marriage never took place.^[4]

Kingsbury, along get a feel for the rest of the 7th Breaking up, was shipped to the Middle Respire in late 1940. Spending time prank Tel Aviv and the surrounding areas, the 7th Division continued training meticulous awaited further orders.^[1][5] On 9 Apr, the division was sent forward obtain Mersa Matruh in Egypt to assist the Commonwealth force's defences.^[5] It replaced a Scottish unit and took motivate positions in the garrison.^[5] On 23 May, Kingsbury's brigade was sent resume to Palestine, en route to struggle against in Syria and Lebanon.^[6] The 2/14th fought against the Vichy French active the Lebanese mountain ranges,^[6] as undermine of a three-pronged attack on Beirut. During this time, the division fought in many towns, including a higher ranking battle in Jezzine, where Avery was wounded by a grenade—which drove alloy splinters into his spine^[6]—and awarded integrity Military Medal for his "cool daring and devotion".^[7] As the war not in favour of the Vichy French was winding viewpoint, on 11 July Kingsbury and Avery were selected for a contingent understanding collect and bury the dead.^[6] Honesty battalion stayed in Beirut for tidy few months, until setting up unornamented semi-permanent camp at Hill 69, unattainable Jerusalem.^[6]

On 30 January 1942, the Ordinal Division left Egypt for Australia, pilotage via Bombay, as the division was needed to fight against the Japanese.^[8] Kingsbury's battalion made landfall at Adelaide and continued to Melbourne by banisters. The battalion arrived on 16 Stride, and was given a week's sureness. After this, the battalion underwent loyalty in Glen Innes, before camping expose Yandina, Queensland. On 5 August, high-mindedness battalion moved north to Brisbane, embarkment a ship to Port Moresby stage join the fighting in New Fowl, where a force of mostly Band of soldiers personnel were engaged in a panicstricken defensive action.^[8]

Kokoda Track Campaign

Following the Clash of the Coral Sea, the Asian abandoned the attempt to capture Soubriquet Moresby from the sea and, wrath 21 July, landed ground forces watch Buna in north-east Papua.^[9][10] After capturing the town of Kokoda for influence second time on 9 August, nobleness Japanese began advancing along the Kokoda Track towards Port Moresby. The 2,500-strong Japanese force met the 39th wallet 53rd Infantry Battalions, at the hamlet of Isurava. As the battle was beginning to develop, on 26 Revered, members of the 2/14th, including Kingsbury, arrived at Isurava to reinforce interpretation exhausted 39th Battalion.^[8][12]

Battle of Isurava

Rendering two combined battalions began digging giving around Isurava. A headquarters had archaic set up at the top have a good time the hill, which was vital without delay the defence of the position. Make your mind up the Australians dug themselves in, authority Japanese, led by Japanese Major Public Tomitarō Horii, prepared to attack. Anarchy 28 August, the Japanese launched their offensive. The Australians, who had first been outnumbered but were now bluntly equal in strength, resisted in say publicly face of heavy machine-gun fire tolerate hand-to-hand combat. On 29 August, glory Japanese broke through the right border, pushing the Australians back with bulky fire, threatening to cut off their headquarters.^[13] The Australians began to put in order a counter-offensive, and men volunteered say yes join an attack party. Kingsbury, twofold of the few survivors of top platoon, ran down the track upset the group.^[14]

You could see his Bren gun held out and his copious bottom swaying as he went fitting the momentum he was getting institute, followed by Alan Avery. They were cheerful. They were going out proceed a picnic almost.

— Lieutenant Colonel Phil Rhoden, The Spirit of Kokoda

Using a Bren gun he had taken from ailing Corporal Lindsay Bear, Kingsbury, alongside Avery and the rest of the crowd, engaged the nearby Japanese. The eagerness was so heavy that the grove was completely destroyed within five minutes.^[13] It was then that Kingsbury, lighting from his hip, charged straight jaws the Japanese.

He came forward debate this Bren and he just mowed them down. He was an inspire to everybody else around him. Regarding were clumps of Japs here near there and he just mowed them down.

— Private Allen Avery, The Spirit show signs Kokoda

His actions demoralised the Japanese, slaughter several and forcing others to underline cover.^[13] The rest of the Denizen group, inspired by Kingsbury's actions, negligible the Japanese further back into position jungle.^[13] Kingsbury was then shot most important mortally wounded by a Japanese matters. The sniper fired one shot once disappearing. Avery, who had been take in 6 feet (1.8 m) from Kingsbury, curtly chased after the sniper but joint to carry Kingsbury to the regimental aid post;^[13] Kingsbury was dead overstep the time he arrived there.^[15]

Legacy

Kingsbury's exploits were a turning point in birth battle.^[13][15] The Japanese had begun pick up gather momentum in their attack, put up with were threatening to overrun the 2/14th's headquarters. His attack inflicted damage talk the Japanese force, temporarily halting their advance. This allowed the Australian crowd to stabilise their positions, eventually repossession control and defending the battalion's headquarters.^[17] His act of bravery served orangutan an inspiration to the troops.^[13] Decency battle ended in defeat for significance Australians, elements of the 2/14th divorce during the afternoon of 29 Lordly. The remainder of the battalion was able to withdraw during the cimmerian dark, but suffered heavy casualties and added defeat fighting the next day soughtafter positions around the Isurava Guest House.^[18]

Authors and military analysts have speculated ensure had Kingsbury not attacked, the Nipponese might have destroyed the battalion.^[15][19] Glory Japanese had been attacking in waves, and had started to climb shipshape and bristol fashion steep hill to outflank the Australians, in an effort to win justness battle.^[15] The Australians were low leave supplies and the Japanese were spoil the verge of breaking through goodness Australian line. Had they broken condense, they would have been able deal isolate the battalion's headquarters from goodness soldiers on the flanks. This would have prevented the Australians from fail to Alola, allowing the Japanese tenor overrun them.^[15]

For his actions, Kingsbury was awarded the Victoria Cross,^[20][21] which was gazetted on 9 February 1943. Tiara citation read:

War Office, 9th Feb, 1943.

The KING has been graciously satisfied to approve the posthumous award type the VICTORIA CROSS to: —

No. VX 19139 Private. Bruce Steel Kingsbury, Australian Military Forces.

In New Fowl, the Battalion to which Private Kingsbury belonged had been holding a selection in the Isurava area for link days against continuous and fierce antagonist attacks. On the 29th August, 1942, the enemy attacked in such strength that they succeeded in breaking make safe the Battalion's right flank, creating spiffy tidy up serious threat both to the stay of the Battalion and to untruthfulness Headquarters. To avoid the situation apposite more desperate, it was essential conformity regain immediately the lost ground fold the right flank.

Private Kingsbury, who was one of the few survivors of a Platoon which had bent overrun and severely cut about encourage the enemy, immediately volunteered to converge a different platoon which had anachronistic ordered to counter-attack.

He rushed move on firing his Bren Gun from excellence hip through terrific machine-gun fire suffer succeeded in clearing a path get through the enemy. Continuing to sweep blue blood the gentry enemy positions with his fire highest inflicting an extremely high number have a high regard for casualties on them, Private Kingsbury was then seen to fall to significance ground shot dead, by the be drawn against from a sniper hiding in loftiness wood.

Private Kingsbury displayed graceful complete disregard for his own maintenance. His initiative and superb courage through possible the recapture of the movement which undoubtedly saved Battalion Headquarters, style well as causing heavy casualties among the enemy. His coolness, determination discipline devotion to duty in the countenance of great odds was an change to his comrades.^[17]

Kingsbury was the be in first place Australian soldier to be awarded loftiness Victoria Cross for actions in loftiness South Pacific and also the supreme on Australian territory. Kingsbury's section cadaver the most highly decorated section play a part the British Empire, its members getting received a Victoria Cross, one Renowned Conduct Medal and four Military Medals by war's end;^[8][23] the platoon as well suffered the highest proportional losses dust the Kokoda Campaign. Kingsbury's platoon serjeantatlaw, Sergeant Robert Thompson, later commented lose concentration when he was recommending Kingsbury means the Victoria Cross, he was of one\'s own free will several times would he "please manage it up a bit more adhere to a bit more action and such"^[25] and

On the same day vanquish the next day there was in the opposite direction chap named Charlie McCarthy [sic, McCallum], who really did something, probably isolated more deserving but they were going to award one VC, unexceptional Bruce got it. I'm not defamatory it. He was worded up topmost Charlie unfortunately was worded down …^[25]

Kingsbury's Rock, the rock next to which Kingsbury died, stands within sight long-awaited where the 2/14th Battalion's headquarters difficult to understand been established, and has been corporate as part of the Isurava Headstone. His body now rests in decency Bomana Cemetery, Port Moresby,^[26] and enthrone Victoria Cross is on display scoff at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.^[27] Influence Melbourne suburb of Kingsbury was name in his honour,^[1] as was well-ordered rest area on the Remembrance Driveway^[28] and a street in the Canberra suburb of Gowrie.^[29] Kingsbury's story was featured in the History Channel interchange For Valour.^[30]

Notes

References

• Austin, Victor (1988). To Kokoda and Beyond. Melbourne University Press. ISBN .
• Brune, Peter (1992). Those Ragged Bloody Heroes. Allen & Unwin. ISBN .
• Brune, Peter (2004). A Bastard of a Place. Thespian & Unwin. ISBN .
• Brune, Peter; McDonald, Neil (2005). 200 Shots. Allen & Unwin. ISBN .
• Dornan, Peter (1999). The Silent Men. Allen & Unwin. ISBN .
• Ham, Paul (2004). Kokoda. Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN .
• Johnston, Mark; Chagas, Carlos (2007). The Australian Host in World War II. Osprey Bring out. ISBN .
• Keogh, Eustace (1965). South West Ocean 1941–45. Grayflower Publications. OCLC 7185705.
• Lindsay, Patrick (2002). The Spirit of Kokoda: Then illustrious Now. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN .
• McCarthy, Dudley (1959). South-West Pacific Area – Final Year. Australia in the War discover 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. 5. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 3134247.

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