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209534
William Arthur McCrae Bruce VC
British Indian Army 59th Scinde Rifles
(d.19th Dec 1914)
William Arthur McCrae Bruce was born in Edinburgh and educated in Jersey, Channel Islands at Victoria College and studied at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to complete his officer's training. Serving with the 59th Scinde Rifles of the Indian Army, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. His citation reads:
"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. On the 19th December, 1914, near Givenchy, during a night attack, Lt. Bruce was in command of a small party which captured one of the enemy's 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 skilful disposition made, and the example and encouragement shown by Lt. Bruce that his men were able to hold out until dusk, when the trench was finally captured by the enemy."