Private Bernard Bruton
3rd Battalion, AIF
Service Number: 519
Born: 20 September 1895, Waterloo, NSW
Died: 7 August 1915, Lone Pine, Gallipoli Turkey
Bernard Joseph Bruton, the son of Frederick Greville and Mary Matilda Bruton, was born on 20 September 1895 at Waterloo NSW. He was educated at Patrician Brothers Petersham and after leaving school worked as a builder’s assistant. Before enlisting Bruton was a member of the 39th Infantry at Belmore NSW. Bruton’s parents lived at Belmore before becoming licensees of the Orient Hotel, Emu Plains in the early 1920s.
After enlisting on 26 August 1914 Bruton was allocated to 13 Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion AIF. It is likely that he left on the A14 HMAT Euripides on 20 October 1914, arriving in Egypt on 2 December. After training in Egypt, Bruton embarked on the SS Derflinger (a captured German liner) to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. The 3rd Battalion took part in the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 1915 as part of the second and third waves. On 20 June 1915, Bruton was awarded one extra fatigue for refusing to obey an order while on active service and for leaving the fatigue party without permission.
In August 1915 the 3rd Battalion took part in the Lone Pine offensive. On 14 August Bruton was posted as having gone missing some time between 7-12 August. A court of enquiry was held on 5 June 1916 to determine Bruton’s last known location. Sgt R D Graham, D Company 3rd Battalion stated that on 6 August 1915 he saw Bruton lying in a trench. Later on the body was removed by the Connaught Rangers and buried at Brown’s Dip. He described Bruton as a fairly tall, broad shouldered fellow known as “Lardhead”.
Memorial Details:
- Lone Pine Memorial Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey
- Emu Plains War Memorial
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