TROOPER M. W. BRUCE.
Trooper Malcolm William Bruce, who has been missing since August 27, is the second son of Mr J. D. Bruce, of Akaroa, and is 27 years old. He was educated at the Akaroa District High School. Until he enlisted in the 4th Reinforcements he was farming with his brother, John Bruce, in Taranaki. -Sun, 25/9/1915.
AKAROA BOYS AT THE FRONT.
Writing from the Zeitoun Camp, under date August 11th, to his mother, Mrs J D. Bruce, Akaroa, Trooper Malcolm Bruce expresses his pleasure at his company being ordered to Gallipoli. "We, of the 4th Reinforcement, received word to day to hold ourselves in readiness to get out, which means that we will be equipped tomorrow night, or Saturday morning, so that the next letter you get will probably be a service PC, which sounds rather Irish, doesn't it? There has been a big stir in the Dardanelles the last week, but we can't got any particulars much except that there has been a big advance. There have been two or three train loads of wounded brought into the hospitals here the last couple of days. The Egyptian papers have had nothing in for a fortnight on account — partly anyway— of the religious feasts with which they finish the fast month of Ramidan — today is their Xmas day. We are all pleased at getting away together. Gee Spooner is going at the same time. We went for a good ride last night towards the Nile through what, I suppose, is the richest land in Egypt. It looks very quaint and beautiful in the dark with the natives working in the cotton and rice fields or coming home from work with their donkeys loaded with melons, dates, etc. In the evening, looking through the palms, it looks just what you would imagine Egypt was like; but daylight shows up a shortage of soap amongst the people. The letter ends with the usual appeal that letters should be sent regularly.
A letter from Trooper G. Spooner, dated August 15th, also sent to Mrs Bruce must have been written as their troopship left. He speaks of the advance made at Gallipoli, and expresses the hope that there will be some bayonet work left for them. -Akaroa Mail, 5/10/1915.
Malcolm Bruce died on a day of furious fighting, in which the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, with other units, tried to take Hill 60. It was a costly success but did not win the campaign.
Right on time the men jumped from the trenches. It seemed no distance to go, probably sixty yards, but every yard of ground was swept by enemy shrapnel and high explosives. Casualties were fearful, but the line reached the first trench and disappeared into it. It seemed minutes, but was probably some seconds only, before they reappeared. A short rush and they were over the second trench and into the third on the top of the hill. But mortal man could go no further. In each trench there had remained many Turks in spite of the heavy bombardment from the Anzac guns. These were now killed and their bodies, together with those who had been slain by the bombardment, literally filled the trenches. -Official History, CMR.
Malcolm Bruce's death was made official by the findings of one of the many Courts of Enquiry convened in Egypt after evacuation. He has no known grave.
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