Victoria Cross : Private B S Kingsbury, 2/14 Infantry Battalion, AIF

Victoria Cross. Engraved reverse suspender and cross with recipient's details and date of action.

Bruce Steel Kingsbury was born at Armadale, Melbourne, on 8 January 1918. As a young man he spent time working on the land in Victorian country areas, but eventually settled in a position with his father’s real estate firm at Northcote, in Melbourne. Enlisting in the AIF in May 1940, he was initially posted to the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion, but almost immediately transferred to 2/14th Infantry Battalion, 7th Australian Division, with whom he remained until his death.

After service in the Middle East the 2/14th returned to Australia in March 1942 and in August moved to Port Moresby, hoping to halt the Japanese on the Kokoda Trail. Kingsbury's platoon had been holding a position for two days against continual enemy attacks when he made the heroic assault that cost him his life. On his own initiative, he charged with a Bren gun, shooting from the hip against intense enemy machine-gun fire, causing many casualties. Alone, he continued to sweep the enemy with his fire until he fell, shot by a sniper. For his actions he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. A senior officer said that Kingsbury's valour had inspired the battalion over the succeeding weeks, and demonstrated that the previously undefeated Japanese could be beaten.

Kingsbury’s Victoria Cross was the first to be awarded to an Australian for actions on Australian territory. The recommendation for the award reads:

‘From 27th August 1942 the 2/14 Aust. Inf. Bn. was holding the ISURAVA area against the enemy who were attacking fiercely in force. On 29th August, the enemy attacked in such force they succeeded in breaking through the Bn’s right flank. This created a serious threat to Bn HQ and in fact, the whole Bn. It was essential the lost ground on the right flank be regained immediately, otherwise the position would be desperate indeed. My Pl was ordered to counter attack and restore the posn. VX.19139 Pte BRUCE STEEL KINGSBURY, one of the few remaining survivors of No. 9 Pl which had been over-run and severely cut about by the enemy, had been in constant contact with the enemy since the 27th August, yet he volunteered to join my Pl in the counter attack. He rushed forward firing his Bren LMG from the hip through terrific M.G. fire, and succeeded in clearing a path through the enemy for the Pl; a courageous action which made it possible for us to recapture the posn. KINGSBURY continued on, still sweeping the enemy posns with his Bren L.M.G. and inflicting an extremely high number of casualties on the enemy, but he was killed by a bullet from a sniper hiding in the timber. Pte KINGSBURY displayed a complete disregard for his own safety. His initiative and superb courage made it possible for my pl to retake the posn which undoubtedly saved Bn HQ and at the same time inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. His coolness, determination and devotion to duty in the face of great odds, was an inspiration to my men to which they could not but respond.’


He was initially buried in the Kokoda Cemetery, but later moved to Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby.

Witness statements for his actions read:

‘I was in command of No.1 Pl on 29th August 1942 to which VX19139 BRUCE STEELE KINGSBURY had volunteered to join. He was equipped with an L.M.G. I told him to follow close behind me. Suddenly we came under heavy fire which also included Grenades. KINGSBURY without any order from me, or without giving any indication , rushed forward up the narrow track towards the clearing, firing the Bren Gun from the hip. The enemy seemed to concentrate most of their fire on him. Seeing him go forward I ordered the remainder of my troops to follow, but KINGSBURY had got so far ahead that our advance was unmolested since he had killed most of the enemy in the vicinity. I saw him turn around and wait for us to catch up, but before we could join him he started to move forward again. I think he did this as there was considerable enemy movement not far away. The next I saw was KINGSBURY fall to the ground. He was dead when I arrived at his side. The remainder of my troops moved forward and consolidated the ground KINGSBURY had won. 3 Oct 42. (Sgd.) R.N.Thompson A/Lieut. 2/14 Aust. Inf. Bn.’

‘I am VX17772 A/Sgt. A.R. AVERY. I saw Pte BRUCE STEELE KINGSBURY volunteer to join in the attack. We moved up to the attack in extended line. I was about 10 yards from his left. We were now under heavy Grenade and rifle fire. Without warning I saw him rush ahead, throw two Grenades, and then continue firing his Bren. The enemy’s fire seemed to be concentrated on KINGSBURY but he took no notice of it. I think he had seen how close we all were to the enemy’s FDLs (forward defence lines) and had rushed ahead to silence the enemy so that we would not be caught unaware, since we did not realise just how close we were to the enemy’s positions. It was a minute or two before I saw him again but I noticed many of the enemy who had been killed by his fire and who could have bought dangerous fire to bear on us had they not been wiped out. I saw KINGSBURY stop and wait for us to rejoin him and then go to move forward again as if he had seen some more enemy and was going to clean them up before we arrived. But an enemy sniper fired at him. He dropped to the ground but was dead when I saw him again, as we moved over to consolidate the ground he had won. 3 Oct 42. (Sgd.) Alan R. Avery A/Sgt. 2/14 Aust. Inf. Bn.’

‘I am a Corporal in No.1 Pl. I saw VX19139 Pte BRUCE STEELE KINGSBURY come across to Sgt THOMPSON and volunteer to join in the attack. He was about four yards to my left while we were moving up to the attack. All the time we were under heavy enemy fire. Suddenly, KINGSBURY without any warning, rushed ahead firing his Bren Gun from the hip. I saw him sweep the area with the L.M.G. We were now rushing forward to join him. I saw many of the dead that KINSBURY had killed lying on the ground. The next I saw of KINGSBURY was that he was lying on the ground. I never went across to him as we were consolidating. 3 Oct 42. (Sgd.) C. Watson A/Cpl. 2/14 Aust. Inf. Bn.’

• 1939-45 Star : Private B S Kingsbury, 2/14 Infantry Battalion, AIF
• Africa Star : Private B S Kingsbury, 2/14 Infantry Battalion, AIF
• Pacific Star : Private B S Kingsbury, 2/14 Infantry Battalion, AIF
• Defence Medal : Private B S Kingsbury, 2/14 Infantry Battalion, AIF
• British War Medal 1939-45 : Private B S Kingsbury, 2/14 Infantry Battalion, AIF
• Australia Service Medal : Private B S Kingsbury, 2/14 Infantry Battalion, AIF