William Arthur Macrae Bruce, VC

LIEUENANT WILLIAM ARTHUR MACRAE BRUCE VC

William Arthur McCrae Bruce VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, following his death in combat during the Battle of Givenchy in France during the First World War. He was born in Edinburgh on 15 June 1890. William Bruce was educated in Jersey, Channel Islands at Victoria College, Jersey. From here, he moved to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to complete his officer's training before entering combat during the Great War. Serving with the 59th Scinde Rifles of the Indian Army, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for valour. Wikipedia: William Bruce

Lieutenant William Arthur Macrea Bruce, VC., is the only son of Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Murison Macrae Bruce, of the 4th Punjab Infantry, and his wife Margaret Hay. He was born on 15 June 1890. His father was a younger son of William Arthur Bruce of Symbister in the Shetland Islands and his wife Agnes Macrae. The County Families of the Shetland Islands

William Arthur McCrea Bruce entered Victoria College in September 1904. In 1908 he attended Sandhurst where he was a King's India Cadet. Following his passing out in 1909 he travelled to India where he had to serve for twelve months in a British regiment before taking up his Indian Army commission. He was attached to the Northumberland Fusiliers while he learnt Urdu and was educated in the customs and traditions of India. In 1911 he was posted to the 59th Scinde Rifles where he served on the North West Frontier. When war broke out in 1914 he was on leave in Jersey. His regiment was ordered to France and he rejoined them in Cairo en route for the Western Front. The Victoria Cross was not awarded until nearly five years after Bruce was killed in action, as it was not until returning PoWs had been interrogated that the full facts of his action came to light. The Channel Islands and the Great War

News Item in Jersey Evening Post of Wednesday 23 December 1914

Killed in Action. We regret to announce that news has been received of the death in action near La Bassee on 20 December of Lieutenant W A Macrae Bruce of the Indian Army. The deceased was the only son of Colonel & Mrs Macrae Bruce of Roche d'Or, Samares, to whom we offer our sincere condolences. The Channel Islands and the Great War

News Item in Jersey Evening Post of Thursday 24 May 1917

Memorial to Lieutenant W A Macrae Bruce. A handsome brass memorial has now been placed on the south wall of the chancel of St Clements Church. This bears the badge of the 59th Schinde Rifles Frontier Force and the motto "Ready, Aye Ready". The inscription is a follows "To the glory of God and in proud and loving memory of William Arthur Macrae Bruce, Lieutenant 59th Schinde Rifles Frontier Force. Only son of Colonel Andrew Macrae Bruce CBE & Margaret his wife, who, when leading a bombing party of his regiment was killed in a German trench at Givenchy, near La Bassee, France on 19 December 1914 aged 24 years. Also to the honoured memory of those brave men of his regiment who refusing to leave him were killed with him" The Channel Islands and the Great War

Gazetted for Victoria Cross on 4 September 1919

Citation: "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. On the 19th December 1914, near Givenchy, during a night attack, Lieut. Bruce was in command of a small party which captured one of the enemy trenches. In spite of being severely wounded in the neck, he walked up and down the trench encouraging his men to hold on against several counter-attacks for some hours until killed. The fire from rifles and bombs was very heavy all day, and it was due to the skillful disposition made and the example and encouragement shown by Leut. Bruce that his men were able to hold out until dusk, when the trench was finally captured by the enemy." This Victoria Cross was presented to Victoria College by Old Victorians, Pupils and friends of the School on Thursday 26th November 1992. The Channel Islands and the Great War