History – WW2 Soldier Bruce Alfred Bridge N161536

Bruce Alfred Bridge was born on 5 October 1923 at Gloucester to Bowen Bridge and Amy Mabel Isabella Nash.

Bruce enlisted at Upper Lansdowne on 13 February 1942 aged 18 years 3 months and stated his occupation as dairy farm hand and his next of kin as his father Bowen Bridge of Upper Lansdowne.

Bruce served with the Citizen Military Forces from 2 March 1942 to 21 August 1946 and was transferred to the 0 Australian Heavy Battery on 2 January 1943.

On 10 September 1943 he embarked on the Janssens at Townsville arriving in Buna New Guinea.  He returned to Queensland on board the Boschfontein on 1 July 1944.  In August 1944 he was transferred to NSW.  It appears he suffered from dermatitis and malaria after his return from New Guinea.  In March 1946 he was transferred out to Cowra PW group.

At the time of discharge on 21 August 1946, he was posted to 0 Australian Heavy Battery.

Bruce married Eileen Evangeline White at Taree in 1951. He died on 12 October 1994 aged 71 and is buried in the Wauchope Cemetery.

Bruce’s 2 brothers Ulric and Ernest also served during WW2.