Lljssenthoek Military Cemetery
D.L.I. Memorial Book
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Bruce Jnr. was born 1895 in South Moor, County Durham, one of 8 known children, 4 boys and 4 girls, born to George and Hannah Bruce. His father was born 1865 in Wheatley Hill, his mother Hannah 1865 in Annfield Plain. George Snr. was a coke drawer, first living with the family at Greenland, Tanfield moving later to 5, Clarke Terrace, Shield Row, West Stanley, where he was employed as a shaftman, George Jnr. a coal miner.
George Bruce enlisted October 12th 1914 in Chester le Street, assigned as Private 20667 Durham Light Infantry 10th Service Battalion attached to the 43rd Brigade, 14th Division, moved to Woking, then Aldershot and on to Witley in November 1914 for the winter, returning to Aldershot in February 1915 for final training. Mobilised they embarked for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force May 20th 1915 landing in Boulogne the following day. They grouped at St. Omer first entrained and then marched to the Ypres salient where they fought in the Action of Hooge, they were the first division to be attacked by flamethrowers. They took part in the second attack on Bellewaarde and saw action on the Somme in 1916 in the Battle of Delville Wood from July 15th to September 3rd 1916. During this campaign George was shot, a flesh wound to the groin.
He was sent back to England for treatment August 2nd 1916, after his recovery he joined the 2nd Reserve Battalion D.L.I., it was not until January 8th 1917 that he was sent back to the front. Once in France he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion D.L.I., newly arrived as part of the 123rd Brigade, 41st Division. which saw action at Flers-Courcelette and the Battle of Transloy Ridges on the Somme. Transferred later to the 20th Battalion whilst fighting on the Ypres salient George was wounded in the chest and left elbow. He was taken by the 103rd Field Ambulance to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station near the village of Lljssenthoek which was out of the range of most German field artillery. Private 20667 George Bruce Durham Light Infantry died of wounds May 23rd 1917, he was 21 years old and single. He is interred at Lljssenthoek Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, grave XII. B. 16A.
He had nominated his sister Caroline as his sole beneficiary, she received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to the family home of 5, Clarke Terrace, Shield Row, West Stanley, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Bruce is remembered at Craghead on C120.02 at South Moor on S129.01 and at Stanley S135.04 where his name is given as George Edward.
George's name is in the Durham Light Infantry Book of Remembrance kept in the DLI Memorial Chapel Durham Cathedral D47.013
