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Bruce Kingsbury

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Bruce Steel Kingsbury
Private Bruce Kingsbury VC c.1940
Private Bruce Kingsbury VC c.1940
AllegianceAustralia Commonwealth of Australia
Service / branchAustralian Army
Years of service1940 – 1942
RankPrivate
Unit2/14th Infantry Battalion
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsVictoria Cross

Bruce Steel Kingsbury VC (8 January 1918 – 29 August 1942) was an Australian soldier who served in the Australian Army from 1940 to 1942. Although he fought in the Middle East, Kingsbury is renowned for his actions during the Battle of Isurava, one of many battles forming the Kokoda Track Campaign. Due to the bravery shown during the battle, Kingsbury received the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces. The first to receive a Victoria Cross on Australian soil, Kingsbury was a member of the highly decorated 2/14th Infantry Battalion.

On 29 August 1942, during the Battle of Isurava, Kingsbury, who was one of the few survivors of a platoon which had been overrun by the Japanese, immediately volunteered to join a different platoon which had been ordered to counterattack. He rushed forward firing his Bren gun from his hip, clearing a path through the enemy and inflicting a number of casualties. Kingsbury was then seen to fall, shot by a Japanese sniper and dying instantly. His actions, in delaying the Japanese to give sufficient time for the Australians to fortify their positions, have been identified as what undoubtedly saved the Battalion Headquarters, and was awarded the Victoria Cross as a result.

Early life

Born in Preston, Melbourne on 8 January 1918, Kingsbury was the second son of Philip Blencowe Kingsbury, an estate agent, and his wife Florence Annie, née Steel.[1] Growing up in the suburb of Prahran, Kingsbury became close friends with Allen Avery when they were five years old,[2] and the two would often race billycarts down the hilly streets.[2] Kingsbury attended Windsor State School as a child, and his results were good enough to earn a scholarship at Melbourne Technical College. Avery began an agricultural course in Longerenong. Although qualified as a printer, Kingsbury began working at his father's real estate business,[1] a job which he disliked.[2]

Kingsbury, unhappy with this job, took up the position of caretaker on a farm at Boundary Bend, not far from where Avery was working. After three months, the two decided that they would go on an adventure - walking through western Victoria and New South Wales.[2] In February 1936, Kingsbury and Avery left their jobs and began travelling north, working on various farms and estates. The pair eventually arrived in Sydney several months later, and returned to Melbourne on the first train back. Kingsbury resumed working as a real estate agent, whereas Avery worked as a nurseryman.[2] The two worked and spent their free time at dances and parties. During this time, Kingsbury met and became close to Leila Bradbury.[2] As the war in Europe escalated, Kingsbury and Avery had made up their minds about enlisting. Despite the disagreement of his parents, Kingsley signed up to the Australian Imperial Force on 29 May 1940.[3][4]

Military years

Kingsbury was originally assigned to the 2/2 Pioneers, but requested to be moved to the 2/14th Infantry Battalion to join Avery, who had, coincidentally, enlisted on the same day at a different enlistment centre.[5][1] The two trained at Puckapunyal, a part of Seventh Section of 9 Platoon, undergoing basic training. This included drill instruction, rifle drill and mock battle training.[5] After the Seventh Section learned they would be sent overseas, Kingsbury informed Avery that he planned to propose to Leila. The pair went to Melbourne to try and arrange the wedding. Although Kingsbury gave Leila a wristwatch as an engagement present, they could not find a marriage license before he left, and the marriage never occurred. [5]

Kingsbury, along with the rest of the 7th Division, was shipped to the Middle East aboard HMT Aquitania. Spending time in Tel Aviv and the surrounding areas, the 7th Division continued training and awaited further orders.[6][1] On 9 April, the division was sent forward to Mersa Mutrah in Egypt to support the Commonwealth force's defences.[3] They replaced a Scottish unit and took up positions in the garrison.[6] On 23 May, Kingsbury's brigade was sent back to Palestine, en route to battle in Syria and Lebanon.[7] The 2/14th fought alongside British troops, fighting the Vichy French on the Lebanese mountain ranges,[2] coordinating a three pronged attack on Beirut. During this time, the division fought in many towns, including a major battle in Jezzine, during which Avery was wounded by a grenade, which had forced metal splinters into his spine.[7] As the war with the Vichy French began to end, on 11 July Kingsbury and Avery were selected for a contingent to collect and bury the dead.[7] The battalion stayed in Beirut for a few months, until they set up a semi-permanent camp at Hill 69, outside Jerusalem.[7]

On 30 January 1942, the 7th Division left Egypt for Australia, sailing via Bombay.[8] Kingsbury's battalion made landfall at Adelaide and continued to Melbourne by rail. The battalion arrived on 16 March, and was given a weeks leave. After this, the battalion underwent training in Glen Innes, before camping in Yandina, Queensland. On 5 August, the battalion moved north to Brisbane, where they boarded a ship to Port Moresby.[3]

Kokoda Track Campaign

Kingsbury with the other members of his platoon on 16 August 1942

The Japanese Army had for several months been making great progress in its Pacific War campaign. After capturing Singapore in February 1942, many Australians believed that New Guinea was the next major target, effectively isolating Australia from its allies. The Japanese had captured Rabaul in New Britain in January, and on 21 July, landed at Buna, northeast Papua.[9] After capturing the town of Kokoda for the second time on 9 August, the Japanese began marching along the Kokoda Track towards Port Moresby. The 2,500 strong Japanese army met the 39th, 49th and 53rd Infantry Battalions, collectively 400 strong, at the town of Isurava.[10] As the Japanese attacked, they managed to push the 53rd back to a junction behind Isurava. It was at the height of the battle, on 26 August that the members of the 2/14th, including Kingsbury, arrived at Isurava to provide reinforcements. [3] Despite the reinforcements, the Australians were outnumbered five to one.[11]

Battle of Isurava

The two combined battalions began fortifying themselves around Isurava. A headquarters had been set up at the top of the hill, which was vital to the defence of the position. While the Australians dug themselves in, the Japanese, led by Japanese Major General Tomitarō Horii, prepared to attack. On 28 August, the Japanese launched their offensive. The Australians were outnumbered by as many as six to one, yet resisted in the face of heavy machine gun fire and hand to hand combat. On 29 August, the Japanese broke through the right flank, pushing the Australians backwards with heavy fire, threatening to cut off their headquarters.[12] The Australians began to mount a counter-attack, and men volunteered themselves to go on in an attack party. Kingsbury, one of the few survivors of his platoon, ran down the Track with the group.[3]

You could see his Bren gun held out and his big bottom swaying as he went with the momentum he was getting up, followed by Alan Avery. They were cheerful. They were going out on a picnic almost.

— Lt Col. Phil Rhoden, The Spirit of Kokoda

Using a Bren Gun he had taken from wounded Corporal Lindsay Bear, Kingsbury, alongside Avery and the rest of the group, engaged the nearby Japanese. The fire was so heavy that the undergrowth was completely destroyed within five minutes.[12] It was then that Kingsbury, firing from his hip, charged straight at the Japanese.

He came forward with this Bren and he just mowed them down. He was an inspiration to everybody else around him. There were clumps of Japs here and there and he just mowed them down.

— Pte Allen Avery, The Spirit of Kokoda.

His actions completely demoralised the Japanese,[12] killing as many as 30 soldiers,[13] while forcing the remainder to find cover.[12] The rest of the Australian group, inspired by Kingsbury's actions, forced the Japanese further back into the jungle.[12] Kingsbury was then seen to fall to the ground, shot by a Japanese sniper who had appeared at the top of a large rock. The sniper fired one shot before disappearing. Avery, who had been about 6 ft (1.8m) from Kingsbury, briefly chased after the sniper, but returned to carry Kingsbury to the Aid Post;[12] Kingsbury was dead by the time he got there.[14]

Legacy

Signalman R. Williams tending to Kingsbury's grave in 1944.

Kingsbury's actions were a turning point in the battle. The Japanese had begun to gather momentum in their attack, were threatening to cut off the entire battalion.[15] His attack inflicted numerous injuries to the Japanese, effectively halting their advance. This allowed the Australian troops to stabilise their positions, eventually regaining control and defending the Battalion Headquarters.[16] His act of bravery also served as an inspiration to the troops, as well as earning admiration from the Japanese.

During the battle we had advanced about 200 meters and I remember than an Australian soldier, wearing just a pair of shorts, came running towards us [...] I suppose the Australians had a different motivation for fighting, but this soldier, this warrior, was far braver than any in Japan.

— Pte Shigenori Doi, The Spirit of Kokoda

It is often speculated by authors and military analysts that had Kingsbury not attacked, the Japanese would have isolated the Battalion Headquarters, eventually destroying the battalion.[14]

For his actions, Kingsbury was awarded the Victoria Cross, [17][18] the notification of which was published in a supplement to the London Gazette on 9 February 1943. His citation read:

War Office, 9th February, 1943.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to: —

No. VX 19139 Private. Bruce Steel Kingsbury, Australian Military Forces.

In New Guinea, the Battalion to which Private Kingsbury belonged had been holding a position in the Isurava area for two days against continuous and fierce enemy attacks. On the 29th August, 1942, the enemy attacked in such force that they succeeded in breaking through the Battalion's right flank, creating a serious threat both to the rest of the Battalion and to its Headquarters. To avoid the situation becoming more desperate, it was essential to regain immediately the lost ground on the right flank.

Private Kingsbury, who was one of the few survivors of a Platoon which had been over-run and severely cut about by the enemy, immediately volunteered to join a different platoon which had been ordered to counter-attack.

He rushed forward firing his Bren Gun from the hip through terrific machine-gun fire and succeeded in clearing a path through the enemy. Continuing to sweep the enemy positions with his fire and inflicting an extremely high number of casualties on them, Private Kingsbury was then seen to fall to the ground shot dead, by the bullet from a sniper hiding in the wood.

Private Kingsbury displayed a complete disregard for his own safety. His initiative and superb courage made possible the recapture of the position which undoubtedly saved Battalion Headquarters, as well as causing heavy casualties amongst the enemy. His coolness, determination and devotion to duty in the face of great odds was an inspiration to his comrades.[16]

He was the first Australian soldier to be awarded this distinction in the South Pacific, and also the first on Australian territory.[19] Seven Section of 9 Platoon, 2/14th Battalion, remains as the most highly decorated section in the British Empire, its members having received a Victoria Cross, one Distinguished Conduct Medal and four Military Medals by war's end;[3][20] the platoon also holds the conspicuous honour of the largest death toll in the Kokoda Campaign.[21] The rock next to which Kingsbury died stands within sight of the old Battalion Headquarters, and has been incorporated as part of the Isurava Memorial. His body now rests in the Bomana Cemetery, Port Moresby,[22] and his Victoria Cross is currently on display at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.[23]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d McAllester, James (2000). "Kingsbury, Bruce Steel (1918 - 1942)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian Dictionary of Biography. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Dornan 1999, pp. 11–18
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Bruce Kingsbury VC". Kokoda Historial. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Kingsbury, Bruce Steel". World War II Nominal Roll. Commonwealth of Australia. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c Dornan 1999, pp. 19–26
  6. ^ a b Dornan 1999, pp. 29–41
  7. ^ a b c d Dornan 1999, pp. 49–78
  8. ^ Dornan 1999, pp. 81–87
  9. ^ McCarthy 1959, p. 145
  10. ^ Brune 2004, p. 134
  11. ^ Brune 2004, p. 134
  12. ^ a b c d e f Lindsay 2002, pp. 77–81
  13. ^ "The Kokoda Track Foundation". The Kokoda Track Foundation. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b Ham 2004, p. 0
  15. ^ Brune 1992, p. 112
  16. ^ a b "No. 35893". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 5 February 1943.
  17. ^ "Honours and awards (gazetted)". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  18. ^ Johnston & Chagas 2007, p. 23
  19. ^ Brune 2004, p. 150
  20. ^ Austin 1988, p. 158
  21. ^ Brune & McDonald 2005, p. 59
  22. ^ "Casualty details—Kingsbury, Bruce Steel". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "Hall of Valour: Victoria Crosses at the Memorial". Australian War Memorial. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

References

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