Bruce Kingsbury

Bruce Steel Kingsbury, VC was an Australian soldier of the Second World War. He was the first serviceman to receive the VC for actions on Australian territory. He died in action on the island of New Guinea, then part of the Australian Territory of Papua, on 29 August 1942.

About Bruce Kingsbury in brief

Summary Bruce KingsburyBruce Steel Kingsbury, VC was an Australian soldier of the Second World War. He was the first serviceman to receive the VC for actions on Australian territory. His bravery during the Battle of Isurava was recognised with the Victoria Cross. His actions delayed the Japanese long enough for the Australians to fortify their positions, and he was posthumously awarded the VC as a result. Kingsbury was the second son of Philip Blencowe Kingsbury and his wife Florence Annie, née Steel. He served with the 7th Division in the Middle East and later with the 214th Infantry Battalion. He died in action on the island of New Guinea, then part of the Australian Territory of Papua, on 29 August 1942, when he was shot by a sniper. He is survived by his wife, Leila Bradbury, and their two children, aged three and five. Kingsburys was the only member of his battalion to survive the war. He also leaves behind a wife and a son, who are still living in Melbourne, and a daughter, who was born in Sydney in 1961. He will be buried in Prahran, a suburb of Melbourne, on the banks of the River Yarra, near the border with New South Wales.

His wife and children are now living in Sydney, and his daughter is studying at the University of NSW in Sydney. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. In the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255 or visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. For confidential. support in the UK, call 08457 909090 or click here. For information on suicide matters in the United States, call the suicide prevention line on 0800 555 111 or visit the Samaritans on 08457 89 90 or click here. For confidential help in the Philippines, call 0800 515 9090 or  visit http://www samaritan.org/pages/suicide-prevention-lifeline in the Philippines and the United States on the same page for information on how to suicide prevention should be prepared in the Philippines. For confidential support in the Philippines, call the Salvation Army on 08458 90909 or http www. Samaritans. org/. For support in Australia, call the Australian War Office on 1 800 457 9090 or visit the Australian War Office on-line.