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Bruce, Herbert

Private Herbert (Bert) Bruce served in the 16th Brigade of the 6th Division with the 2/2 Infantry Battalion. His service number was NX1899. He was captured at Tempe Gorge.

From the AWM website: Arriving in Greece on 22 March, the 2/2nd was soon deployed north to resist the anticipated German invasion. It occupied positions at Veria on 7 April, but a succession of withdrawals by the Allies in Greece meant that the battalion did not meet the enemy in battle until 18 April - at Tempe (Pinios) Gorge. There, in a desperate fight, the 2/2nd blocked German movement through the gorge to permit the safe withdrawal of Allied forces further south. It held its ground until overwhelmed by vastly superior German forces. Some parties from the battalion later managed to rejoin the main withdrawal south, and were eventually evacuated by the Allied navies, while others made epic escapes through the Greek islands. A group of 189 members of the 2/2nd subsequently fought with the 16th Brigade Composite Battalion on Crete.

Bert was in six different camps according to his service records. He was in Klagenfurt from Nov 1942 to June 1943 when he escaped. He was captured and sent to another camp. His POW number was 3397.

Bert was born in Gunnedah, New South Wales on 16 Oct 1917. 

AWM Nominal Roll

Service Record in Australian National Archives 



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