Bruce Kingsbury
Bruce Steel Kingsbury (born January 8, 1918 in Melbourne , Australia , † August 29, 1942 in Isurava , Papua New Guinea ) was a soldier in the Australian Armed Forces during World War II . Initially he was stationed in the Middle East ; later he became known for his actions during the Battle of Isurava. His bravery in battle has been rewarded with the Victoria Cross , the highest war award for "outstanding valor in the face of the enemy" given to members of the British Army and the Commonwealth of Nations. Kingsbury, the first soldier to receive this award for acts on Australian territory, was in 2/14. Infantry - Battalion .
On August 29, 1942, Kingsbury was one of the survivors of the Battle of Isurava when a platoon was attacked by Japanese forces. After that, he immediately volunteered to join another platoon that would counterattack. As he advanced, he fired Bren from the hip with his machine gun , made his way through the enemy, inflicting several losses on them. Kingsbury then fell to the ground and was killed by a Japanese sniper. His actions, which delayed the Japanese long enough for the Australians to consolidate their position, were helpful in maintaining his battalion's headquarters and were posthumously rewarded with the Victoria Cross.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Private Bruce Steel Kingsbury. In: Australian War Memorial. awm.gov.au, accessed January 25, 2016 .
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Kingsbury, Bruce |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Kingsbury, Bruce Steel (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Australian soldier |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 8, 1918 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Melbourne , Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 29, 1942 |
| Place of death | Isurava , Papua New Guinea |