BRUCE, Alfred James
| Service Number: | 3017 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 70th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia, 4 February 1892 |
| Home Town: | Karridale, Augusta-Margaret River Shire, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Fremantle Boys School, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Suicide , Busselton West Australia, 4 November 1954, aged 62 years |
| Cemetery: |
Busselton Cemetery, Western Australia Busselton C, Anglican Section,Lot11 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 3017, 11th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 3017, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Fremantle | |
| 14 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3017, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), GSW to face and right thigh at Etaples France | |
| 25 Mar 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, 70th Infantry Battalion, In France | |
| 17 Dec 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3017, 70th Infantry Battalion, RTA "Barambah" |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Lorraine Barnes
Alfred James Bruce was born in Clifton Hill Victoria on 4th February 1892. Though his birth is registered as Illegitimate family believe he was the son of John Carr Bruce ,a Merchant Seaman and Elizabeth Cherry who had married in Melbourne in January 1891 .
The marriage of Elizabeth and John Carr Bruce ended when Alfred was about 4 years old .In 1896 , his mother took Alfred and her two younger children by boat to West Australia There she lived as husband and wife with John Robert Bruce in the timber cutting area of South West West Australia at Karridale and Mornington Mills .
Alfred was baptised in Karridale as the child of Henry ( a Driver ) and Elizabeth Bruce on May 3rd 1901 .
He worked in timber mills before enlisting in AIF on 26th June 1915 at Black Boy Hill Camp .
As a member of the 51st Battalion , 3rd Infantry Brigade Alfred's first overseas designation was Tel el Kebir in Egypt . Alfred was badly wounded at Etaples in France and was evacuated to England. A year later he again returned to serve in France
Family stories tell how the facial disfigurement from Gun Shot wounds to his face greatly affected his life.
A note in his Army records states " one certificate for mention in London Gazette"
Alfred returned to Australia on the " Barambah " in October 1919 .
He returned to live and work in the South West of West Australia but with the closure of timber mills life was very different .
Family accounts tell Alfred's life Post World War 1 was a solitary , difficult one. He never married. Sadly on 4th November 1954 he took his own life . Alfred is buried at Bussellton C Cemetery , Anglican Section , Section B, Lot11 .
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