William Arthur McCrae Bruce

Lieutenant, 59th Scinde Rifles, Indian Army

Register No.: 138 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
Unit: 59th Scinde Rifles, Indian Army all 59th Scinde Rifles VCs →
Date of action: 19 December 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
Conflict / campaign: First World War
London Gazette: 4th September 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
Born: 15th June 1890 in Edinburgh
Died: 19th December 1914 near Givanchy, France. (killed in action)
Award: Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
Memorial / grave: Neuve Chapelle Memorial and in St Clement's Church, Jersey, Channel Islands. No
Medal held by: the Victoria College, Jersey, Channel

Digest of citation

On 19th December 1914 near Givenchy, France, during a night attack, Lieutenant Bruce was in command of a small party which captured one of the enemy's trenches. In spite of being wounded in the neck he walked up and down the trench encouraging his men to hold out against several counter-attacks until he was killed. The fire from rifles and bombs was very heavy all day and it was due to his example and encouragement that the men were able to hold out until dusk when the trench was finally captured by the enemy

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

BRUCE, William Arthur McCrae. (reg No. 138)

Lieutenant 59th Scinde Rifles, Indian Army.

London Gazetted on 4th September 1919.

VC Medal's Custodian is the Victoria College, Jersey, Channel Islands, Born on 15th June 1890 in Edinburgh.

Died on 19th December 1914 near Givanchy, France. (killed in action).

Memorials at Neuve Chapelle Memorial and in St Clement's Church, Jersey, Channel Islands. No Digest of Citation reads: On 19th December 1914 near Givenchy, France, during a night attack, Lieutenant Bruce was in command of a small party which captured one of the enemy's trenches. In spite of being wounded in the neck he walked up and down the trench encouraging his men to hold out against several counter-attacks until he was killed. The fire from rifles and bombs was very heavy all day and it was due to his example and encouragement that the men were able to hold out until dusk when the trench was finally captured by the enemy.

Islands,

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Alf recorded the memorial as: Neuve Chapelle Memorial and in St Clement's Church, Jersey, Channel Islands. No

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