Albert Bruce
Albert Bruce was born 3 August 1893 in London England, the oldest son of Albert and Harriett Bruce and their 7 children (3 boys, 4 girls). Albert immigrated to Canada in 1912, followed in 1914 by his parents, and married Agnes Kirkcaldy of Lindsay ON. They had 1 child, Albert Gerald Bruce, who was born 24 February 1916. They made their home together at 364 Ossington Avenue, Toronto ON. Albert was a metal polisher by trade, and was employed in the Lindsay area at the Cole-Burger Brass Works, and had moved up to Lindsay from Toronto with the same company.
Just 9 days before the birth of his only son, Albert enlisted on 16 February 1916 with the 109th Battalion in Lindsay ON, and was transferred to the 38th Battalion once landed in England, along with many other local Lindsay-area soldiers.
During the night of 8/9 August 1918, the Germans brought up several divisions as reinforcements, preparing for the Battle of Amiens. Canadian plans for the next phase initially included a British Division that was removed from Canadian control at the last minute. This caused a great deal of confusion in orders and delayed operations on 9 August. Units of all four Canadian Divisions participated that day and despite the delays and increased German reinforcements, the depth of the advance increased by over 6 kilometres. The Canadian Corps continued to press the Germans the next morning, having reached the 1916 trench lines. The wire, obstacles and trenches of these former defensive positions proved difficult to move through in some areas. However, over the next few days in a series of small operations the Germans were pushed back beyond their old defensive positions. The last Canadian units in the area were relieved on 20 August after having advanced over 20 kilometres, capturing more than 9000 prisoners, 200 guns, over a thousand machine guns and trench mortars. At around 10am on 10 August 1918, Albert was wounded in the chest by a machine gun bullet. After having his wound dressed immediately at No 4 Canadian Field Ambulance station, he was evacuated to No. 49 Casualty Clearing station where he died of his wounds 4 days later on 14 August 1918.
Albert Bruce is buried in Boves West Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. He was 25 years old.
