Bruce Steel Kingsbury

Infobox Military Person
name=Bruce Steel Kingsbury


caption=
born= 8 January 1918
died= 29 August 1942
placeofbirth= Melbourne, Australia
placeofdeath= Isurava, Papua New Guinea
nickname=
allegiance=
branch= Australian Army
serviceyears= 1940-1942
rank= Private
unit= 2/14th Infantry Division
commands=
battles= World War II
*Syria-Lebanon Campaign
*Kokoda Track Campaign
awards= Victoria Cross
relations=
laterwork=

Bruce Steel Kingsbury VC (8 January 1918–29 August 1942) was an Australian soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross, [cite news
last=
first=
url=http://www.awm.gov.au/honours/honours/person.asp?p=VX19139
title=Honours and awards (gazetted)
publisher=Australian War Memorial
date=
accessdate=2008-10-08] the highest and most prestigious award for British and Commonwealth forces. Kingsbury, then a real estate agent, signed up to the Second Australian Imperial Force on the 16 May 1940 on the same day as his best mate, Private Allen Avery. Although initially assigned to different platoons, the pair requested they be moved together into the 2/14th Infantry Division. He received his basic training in Puckapunyal, and was sent to the Middle East to assist in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign. On 30 January 1942, following the defeat of the Vichy French, Kingsbury was sent back to Australia with his platoon. After a break in Melbourne, Kingsbury was sent to Port Moresby, to assist in the Kokoda Track Campaign against the growing Japanese threat. [cite news
last=
first=
url=http://www.kokodahistorical.com/index.php/Bruce-Kingsbury-VC.html
title=Bruce Kingsbury VC
publisher=Kokoda Historial
date=
accessdate=2008-10-08]

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. While reloading, Kingsbury was shot by a Japanese sniper, dying instantly. His actions have been identified as what undoubtedly saved the Battalion Headquarters, and was awarded the Victoria Cross as a result.

Background

Born in Melbourne on 8 January 1918, the second son of Philip Blencowe and Florence Annie. Kingsley was educated at Windsor State School and was awarded a scholarship at Melbourne Technical College. Although trained as a printer, Kingsley began working at his fathers real estate business. Australian Dictionary of Biography
last=McAllester
first=James
id=A150032b
title=Kingsbury, Bruce Steel (1918 - 1942)
publisher=Australian Dictionary of Biography
year= 2000
accessdate=2008-10-08 ] Kingsley, unhappy with this job, took up a job as caretaker on a farm at Boundary Bend, not far from where his boyhood friend, Alan Avery, was working. In February 1936, Kingsbury and Avery began moving north, working on various farms and estates in New South Wales, eventually reaching Sydney. Kingsbury returned to Melbourne, however, and once again began working as a real estate agent. Kingsley signed up to the Australian Imperial Force on 16 May 1940. He was originally assigned to the 2/2 Pioneers, but moved to the 2/14th Infantry to join Avery, who had coincidentally, enlisted on the same day.

Syria-Lebanon

After receiving his training, Kingsley was sent to the Middle East aboard the "HMT Aquitania". There, he was stationed at Mersa Mutrah, 300km from Tobruk. There, the 2/14th fought the Vichy French alongside British troops, ultimately capturing Beirut. The troops were then sent back to Australia, as the Pacific War grew.

Kokoda Track Campaign

On 5 August 1942 Kingsbury, was shipped to Port Moresby with the 2/14th, in order to provide reinforcements to the troops on the Kokoda Track. This included providing support to the struggling 39th Battalion, who were struggling to hold Kokoda from the advancing Japanese. The 39th had been pushed back up the track to the village of Isurava. It was in that small village, on the 26 August, that the 2/14th met the 39th.cite web
last=
first=
url=http://www.kokodahistorical.com/index.php/Bruce-Kingsbury-VC.html
title=Bruce Kingsbury VC
publisher=Kokoda Historial
date=
accessdate=2008-10-08]

Battle of Isurava

The two combined divisions began fortifying themselves around Isurava. A headquarters has been set up at the top of the hill, was a vital to the success of the campaign. While the Australians dug themselves in, the Japanese, led by Japanese Commander Horii, prepared for attack. On the 28 August, the Japanese launched their offensive. The Australians were outnumbered by as many as six to one, yet stayed firm in the face of heavy machine gun fire and hand to hand combat. On the 29 August, the Japanese broke through the right flank, pushing the Australians backwards while heavily threatening their headquarters. Kingsbury, one of the few survivors of his platoon, volunteered to assist another platoon who had been ordered to counter-attack. Using a Bren Gun he had taken from wounded Corporal Lindsay Bear, Kingsbury charged at the Japanese troops, firing his gun from the hip. He broke through the Japanese line, inflicting numerous casualties while inspiring his fellow soldiers. As he hid behind a rock to reload, Kingsbury was shot by a Japanese sniper. Avery carried his body to the Aid Post, but Kingsbury was dead by the time he got there.Cite book
last1 = Ham
first1 = Paul
title = Kokoda
publisher = HarperCollingsPublishers
date = 2004
year = 2004
isbn = 0732282322]

Legacy

Kingsburys actions were a turning point in the battle. 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. It is often speculated that had Kingsbury not committed his brave attack, the Japanese would've been unstoppable in taking Isurava, presumably continuing on to Port Moresby.

For his actions, Private Kingsbury was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for British and Commonwealth forces. He was the first Australian soldier to be awarded such a distinction in the South Pacific Area, and also the first in Australian territory. Cite book
last1 = Brune
first1 = Peter
title = A Bastard of a Place
publisher = Allen & Unwin
date = 2004
year = 2004
isbn = 1741144035
pages = 150] Cite book
last1 = Brune
first1 = Peter
title = Those Ragged Bloody Heros
publisher = Allen & Unwin
date = 1992
year = 1992
isbn = 1863732640
pages = 112]

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.

References

External links

* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/theartofwar/valgal/valour/INF3_0460.htm Private B.S. Kingsbury] in "The Art of War" exhibition at the UK National Archives