'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. When the centre of his company was held up by an enemy machine gun strong point he assisted an officer to organize a party, which rushed the strong point and captured four machine guns and thirty five men. After the battalion captured its objective he assisted an officer to organize a party to attack another machine gun emplacement, and, though the officer was killed, he captured the post, two machine guns, and thirty of the enemy. When all officers of the battalion had become casualties he organized the battalion and dug a new line.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 110
Date: 25 July 1918

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack of the enemy. He led his platoon with great dash, rushing an advanced enemy machine gun position and killing the crew, and capturing the gun. Later, he rushed a trench, taking ten prisoners, killing the remainder and capturing two more machine guns. And again, later, seeing a party of the enemy moving round his flank, he organized and led a party and wiped them out. He set a magnificent example of courage and coolness, and his services were eminently valuable.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 185
Date: 27 November 1918

Regimental number	21
Place of birth	Oxton, Scotland
School	Kegworth State School, Leichardt, Sydney, New South Wales
Age on arrival in Australia	5
Religion	Methodist
Occupation	Miner
Address	Pelaw Main, New South Wales
Marital status	Married
Age at embarkation	38
Next of kin	Wife, Mrs Louisa Gertrude Lilian Bruce, Pelaw Main, New South Wales
Previous military service	Served as a Bugler in the 4th Regiment, Citizen Military Forces.
Enlistment date	3 January 1916
Rank on enlistment	Corporal
Unit name	34th Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/51/1
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 2 May 1916
Other details from Roll of Honour Circular	At time of death held the rank of Lieutenant.
Fate	Killed in Action 17 July 1918
Place of death or wounding	Sailly-le-Sec, Somme Sector, France
Age at death	46
Age at death from cemetery records	40
Place of burial	Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery (Plot VIII, Row C, Grave No. 8), Fouilloy, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial	123
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records	Parents: William and Ann BRUCE; husband of L.G.L. BRUCE, Neath Street, Pelaw Main, New South Wales. Born at Oxton, Scotland
Medals	Distinguished Conduct Medal 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. When the centre of his company was held up by an enemy machine gun strong point he assisted an officer to organize a party, which rushed the strong point and captured four machine guns and thirty five men. After the battalion captured its objective he assisted an officer to organize a party to attack another machine gun emplacement, and, though the officer was killed, he captured the post, two machine guns, and thirty of the enemy. When all officers of the battalion had become casualties he organized the battalion and dug a new line.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 110 Date: 25 July 1918 Military Cross 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack of the enemy. He led his platoon with great dash, rushing an advanced enemy machine gun position and killing the crew, and capturing the gun. Later, he rushed a trench, taking ten prisoners, killing the remainder and capturing two more machine guns. And again, later, seeing a party of the enemy moving round his flank, he organized and led a party and wiped them out. He set a magnificent example of courage and coolness, and his services were eminently valuable.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 185 Date: 27 November 1918
Other details	War service: Western Front Medals: Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal

James BRUCE