Bruce Kingsbury

Bruce Steel Kingsbury, VC (8 January 1918 – 29 August 1942) was an Australian soldier of the Second World War.

Serving initially in the Middle East, he later gained renown for his actions during the Battle of Isurava, one of many battles forming the Kokoda Track Campaign in the south-east of the island of New Guinea, then part of the Australian Territory of Papua (now Papua New Guinea).

His bravery during the battle was recognised with the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces.

Born in the Melbourne suburb of Preston on 8 January 1918, Kingsbury was the second son of Philip Blencowe Kingsbury, an estate agent, and his wife Florence Annie (née Steel).

Growing up in Prahran, Kingsbury became friends with Allen Avery when he was five years old.

The two often raced billy carts down the hilly streets, and would remain lifelong friends.

Kingsbury attended Windsor State School as a child, and his results were good enough to earn a scholarship at Melbourne Technical College.

Avery began an agricultural course in Longerenong.

Although qualified as a printer, Kingsbury began working at his father's real estate business, a job he disliked.

Unhappy in the estate agency, Kingsbury took up the position of caretaker on a farm at Boundary Bend, not far from where Avery was working.

After three months, the pair decided that they would go on an adventure—walking through western Victoria and New South Wales.

In February 1936, Kingsbury and Avery left their jobs and began travelling north, working on several farms and estates.

The pair eventually arrived in Sydney several months later, and returned to Melbourne on the first train back.

Kingsbury resumed working as a real estate agent, and Avery worked as a nurseryman.

They spent their free time at dances and parties.

During this time, Kingsbury met and became close to Leila Bradbury.

As the war in Europe escalated, Kingsbury and Avery made up their minds to enlist.

Despite his parents' disapproval, Kingsbury signed up to the Australian Imperial Force on 29 May 1940.

Kingsbury, along with the rest of the 7th Division, was shipped to the Middle East in late 1940.

Spending time in Tel Aviv and the surrounding areas, the 7th Division continued training and awaited further orders.

On 9 April, the division was sent forward to Mersa Matruh in Egypt to support the Commonwealth force's defences.

It replaced a Scottish unit and took up positions in the garrison.

On 23 May, Kingsbury's brigade was sent back to Palestine, en route to battle in Syria and Lebanon.

On 29 August 1942, during the Battle of Isurava, Kingsbury was one of the few survivors of a platoon that had been overrun by the Japanese.

He immediately volunteered to join a different platoon, which had been ordered to counter-attack.

Rushing forward and firing his Bren gun from the hip, he cleared a path through the enemy and inflicted several casualties.

Kingsbury was then shot by a sniper and killed instantly.

His actions, which delayed the Japanese long enough for the Australians to fortify their positions, were instrumental in saving his battalion's headquarters and he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross as a result.

On 30 January 1942, the 7th Division left Egypt for Australia, sailing via Bombay, as the division was needed to fight against the Japanese.

Kingsbury's battalion made landfall at Adelaide and continued to Melbourne by rail.

The first serviceman to receive the VC for actions on Australian territory, Kingsbury was a member of the 2/14th Infantry Battalion.

Kingsbury was originally assigned to the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion, but requested a transfer to the 2/14th Infantry Battalion to join Avery who had, coincidentally, enlisted on the same day at a different recruitment centre.

The pair undertook basic training at Puckapunyal, where they were assigned to the same section (7 Section of 9 Platoon) and were given drill instruction, rifle drill and mock battle training.

After 7 Section learned they would be sent overseas, Kingsbury informed Avery that he planned to propose to Leila.

The pair went to Melbourne to try to organise the wedding.

Although Kingsbury gave Leila a wristwatch as an engagement present, they could not arrange a marriage licence before he left, and the marriage never took place.

The 2/14th fought against the Vichy French on the Lebanese mountain ranges, as part of a three-pronged attack on Beirut.

During this time, the division fought in many towns, including a major battle in Jezzine, where Avery was wounded by a grenade—which drove metal splinters into his spine —and awarded the Military Medal for his "cool courage and devotion".

As the war with the Vichy French was winding down, on 11 July Kingsbury and Avery were selected for a contingent to collect and bury the dead.

The battalion stayed in Beirut for a few months, until setting up a semi-permanent camp at Hill 69, outside Jerusalem.