Corporal Oswald Bruce

Thanks to Gary Mitchell for permission to share his Facebook post here on our blog.

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18th December 2021

Memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery, have I been forgotten?

105 years ago today, on the 18th December 1916, Corporal Oswald Bruce, also known as Osie, 4th Field Company, Australian Engineers (Reg Nos-430 & 4032), mining surveyor and clerk (New Lambton Colliery, N.S.W.), from 6 Morgan Street, Adamstown, New South Wales, was Killed in Action, age 23.

http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1677871/ - Roll of Honour.

https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1481035/ - Red Cross Wounded and Missing.

Born at Kahibah, New South Wales on the 20th November 1893 to Stewart (Stuart, died 1922 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140999610, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140992447) and Ann (died 1933 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135555554) Bruce nee Cant, Osie enlisted March 1915 with the 17th Battalion at Liverpool, N.S.W.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137204386 - send-off.

Wounded in action - 28.9.1915 (GSW left shoulder, or splinter from bomb casing).

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137978991 - reported wounded.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137969367 - letter home explaining wound and treatment.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133749744 - reported KIA.

Osie is resting at Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, Montauban, France. Row J Grave 73.

Mr. Bruce’s name has been inscribed on the Adamstown Citizens' Memorial, Adamstown Methodist Church Honour Roll (photo, unveiled on the 31st October 1915 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137963677, 27 names inscribed, 2 designated as having Fallen, 2nd unveil on the 20th June 1917 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134867979, 82 names now inscribed, 11 Fallen, 115 names now inscribed), Adamstown Mechanics Institute Roll of Honour, Cooks Hill Superior Public School Roll of Honour, Charlestown Public School Honor Roll and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall.

I have placed poppies at the Bruce gravesite in remembrance of their son’s service and supreme sacrifice during The Great War. METHODIST 1 (WESLEYAN) E SW. 23.

http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/.../index.php...

Half brother to James Cant (Second Lieutenant, 19th Battalion, KIA 3.5.1917 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134870737) memorialised at the cemetery - METHODIST 2 (PRIMITIVE) 11 SE. 50.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Lest We Forget.