Australian Victoria Cross Recipient
Private Bruce Steel Kingsbury
Unit
2/14th Battalion
Born
8 January 1918 at Armadale, Melbourne
Date of action
29 August 1942
Place
Isurava (Kokoda Track), Papua (now Papua New Guinea)
Details
Kingsbury was one of a party from headquarters company and the signal platoon sent up to assist the defenders in the forward positions. When the enemy broke through on the right flank and threatened battalion headquarters Kingsbury, whose own platoon was decimated by the enemy, joined a different platoon which was to counter-attack. He rushed forward, firing his Bren gun and cleared a path through the enemy while at the same time causing a high number of casualties. He was shot dead by a sniper.
This was the first VC to be awarded for an action on Australian-administered territory.
Died
N/A
Buried or Commemorated
Port Moresby War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea
Current location of the VC
Australian War Memorial
More Information