Bruce Ruxton

Bruce Caryle Ruxton OBE AM (born 6 February 1926) is Australian and known as the former President of the Victorian Returned and Services League and was also on its executive committee.

Early life

He grew up in Kew, Victoria.

War service

He enlisted in the Australian Army on 22 February 1944 and served in the Second World War in the South West Pacific Area, the Netherlands East Indies and Balikpapan in Borneo, and for three years he served in Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, as a rifleman in the 2/25 Australian Infantry Battalion of the 7th Division. He was discharged on 12 January 1949 but was not promoted beyond Private.

Representing the war veterans

After his war service, he became a vocal spokesman on behalf of war veterans and their families, ensuring that they got their pensions and entitlements. As the Second World War veterans got older, he lobbied on their behalf regarding issues such as nursing homes and retirement accommodation.

In 1975 he received the MBE, the OBE in 1981, the AM in 1996, and in 1997 the Chevalier of Order of Merit from Jacques Chirac. Also he received the Légion d'honneur.

In the 1998 Constitutional Convention for the Republic he represented monarchist group Safeguard the People.

Following two years of ill-health due to viral pneumonia during a visit to Boer War sites Ruxton resigned from the RSL in June 2002.

Popular culture

A character originally from Australia You're Standing In It (and later in Fast Forward), Bruce Rump, was based on him. Bruce Rump would rant in a voice similar to Ruxton's, sometimes reaching a violent frenzy and ending with the non sequitur "... and that's why we should keep the bloody flag the same!"

Ruxton made fun of himself by releasing a rap single, in which he lampooned his own persona.

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