BRUCE, William Oliver
| Service Number: | 593 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Karridale West Australia, 28 February 1897 |
| Home Town: | Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Fremantle Boys School ,Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Tuberculosis , Caulfield, Victoria, Australia , 4 September 1940, aged 43 years |
| Cemetery: |
Preston Public Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 593, 28th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 593, 28th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Fremantle | |
| 15 Oct 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 593, 28th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Injured Face Nose | |
| 21 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 593, 7th Machine Gun Company, Disembarked Marseilles for Service in France | |
| 28 Dec 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 593, 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, RTA Katoomba |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Lorraine Barnes
Willliam Oliver Bruce's Birth Certificate states he was born at Karridale Saw Mill, Karridale West Australia on 28th February 1897 , the son of Elizabeth Margaret Bruce (nee Cherry) and Henry Bruce, a Mill Hand ,32 years old who had been born in Stepney England .
His parents separated. Both lived in Fremantle from about 1906 . It is likely William attended the same school, Fremantle Boys School, as his half brother Henry Bary Bruce always known as Harry Bruce .
His occupation on enlisting in WW1 on 13th March 1915 was Labourer .
Harry and William were members of 28th Infantry Battalion AIF departing on HMAT Ascanius from Fremantle on 29th June 1915 for Egypt and then serving as Machine Gunners at Gallipoli .
William suffered a wound to his nose at Gallipoli in October 1915, was treated by 7th Field Ambulance and returned to duty there .
He later served in France with 7th Machine Gun Company as a Driver . His brother Harry , a Gunner with the same Company .
William left France going to Military Hospital in Chichester in England in October 1918 .
Whilst in England he met Amy Maud Quenelle . They married in Bath on 24th May 1919 .
William returned to Australia on the "Katoomba " and was discharged in Perth on 28th December 1919
Amy and William had two daughters born in Perth , Betty Edith in 1920 and Norma Joyce in 1922.
William and Amy moved to Victoria.
William died on 4th September 1940 at Repatriation Hospital , Caulfield aged 42 years. His occupation , a farmer . His address 34 Westbourne Grove , Northcote Victoria.His cause of death Tuberculosis of which is noted as being present for 12 years .
William is buried at Preston Cemetery Victoria.
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