Hi Folks,

Today (29^th August)  is the anniversary of Bruce Kingsbury being involved in the Battle of Isurava that led to his being awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

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 gained renown for his actions during the Battle of Isurava, one of many battles forming the Kokoda Track campaign in 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. The first serviceman to receive the VC in Australian territory, Kingsbury was a member of the highly decorated 2/14th Infantry Battalion.

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 counterattack. Rushing forward and firing his Bren gun from the hip, he cleared a path through the enemy and inflicted a number of casualties. Kingsbury was then seen to fall, shot by a Japanese sniper and killed instantly. His actions, in delaying the Japanese long enough for the Australians to fortify their positions, were instrumental in saving Battalion Headquarters, and he was awarded the Victoria Cross as a result.

Kingsbury fell here while reloading his bren gun and was shot by a Japanese sniper hiding behind this rock – he died in the arms of his best mate!

Since Kokoda has been in the headlines these last few weeks, I thought I’d post this out of interest. More information on this gallant soldier and the activities of his battalion can be found in the battalion’s unit history: “The Second Fourteenth Battalion: History of an Australian Infantry Battalion in the Second World War” by William Russell or in “Men of the 2/14th Battalion” by J C McAllester. More information on the Kokoda campaign can be found in Victor Austin’s “Kokoda and Beyond – the Story of the 39th Battalion 1941 – 1943“.

Good Reading,

Glenn and the Regimental Books Team

ps

I just came across this World War 2 documentary on Kokoda – enjoy!