Roderick Malcolm Livingstone Bruce

(Confirmed)

Born: 20 November, 1883

Died: 13 April, 1918

Biographical Summary:

Roderick Malcolm Livingston Bruce (Regimental Number 1783) was a member of the Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) who enlisted at Cairns, Queensland.  He initially undertook garrison duties at Thursday Island before departing from there for German New Guinea but the ship returned to Townsville before he could participate in the capture of German New Guinea.  He served with the ANMEF from 8 August 1914 to 18 September 1914.

It appears that as the ANMEF was mobilised quickly the usual attestation and other papers were not prepared.  There are two sets of enlistment documents held by the National Archives.  The first set for the ANMEF only has his name as Robert Bruce with his next of kin being his mother Annie Bruce of Mosman, with no street address.  (His mother's name was Harriet.) 

The second, which is with his AIF service records has Mr J (James) Bruce of Germantown (Holbrook) as his next of kin.  There is no other information but at some stage a summary of his ANMEF service was prepared from other sources and included in his ANMEF and AIF records.

He enlisted (Regimental Number 114) in the AIF at Townsville within days of his discharge from the ANMEF.

He landed at Gallipoli on 25/26 April 1915 with the 15th Battlion.  He was evacuated on 10 May suffering from rheumatism.  After being hospitalised, he returned to Australia and was discharged from the AIF on 25 November 1915.

He re-enlisted (Regimental Number 5790) in the AIF on 31 March 1916 and after being medically cleared was sent overseas again.  He joined the 17th Battalion in France in February 1917.  He died on 13 April 1918 of gun shot wounds when a German shell exploded near him.  At the time his battalion was at Gentelles, Somme near Villers-Bretonneux.

Apart from the ANMEF attestation, there is no other reference to Mosman in his records. He came from a large family and it is possible that he had a relative who lived in Mosman and put his name forward. [JSB]

Recorded Names:

• Roderick Malcolm Livingston Bruce
• Robert Bruce
• Rod Bruce

Service Number: 1783

Ranks:

• Held rank of Private

Birth Records:

• 20 November, 1883 in Holbrook

Death Records:

• Died on service
• 13 April, 1918 in Gentelles

Relationships:

• father - James Bruce
• mother - Harriet Fennell Pabst

Organisations:

• Member of - Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force
• Member of - 15th Battalion, AIF
• Member of - 17th Battalion, AIF

Main Sources:

• Bruce Robert SERN 1783 POB NA POE NA NOK M Bruce Annie (NAA File)
• Bruce Roderick Malcolm Livingstone SERN 114 1783 5790 POB Germanton NSW POE Melbourne VIC NOK M Bruce Harriet (Webpage)
• Find War Dead BRUCE RODERICK MALCOLM (Webpage)
• Killed in action (Newspaper Article)
• 399th CASUALTY LIST NEW SOUTH WALES DIED OF WOUNDS (Newspaper Article)

Commemorations:

• BRUCE R. on the West Face of the
• Bruce on the Scots Kirk Presbyterian Church Mosman Roll of Honour