Preparations are underway to mark the 100th anniversary of Pelaw Main Public School’s World War I memorial gates.
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The gates were officially opened with great celebration and ceremony on November 24, 1917 – and the school is planning to celebrate once again, one hundred years to the day.
The memorial entrance way was built by Brownie Monumental Works, Maitland at a cost of 60 pounds.
It is a tribute to the ex-pupils and Pelaw Main residents who had gone to serve in the war.
One of these residents was Lt James Bruce, a coal miner who lived on Neath Street when he enlisted in World War I.
He was highly decorated for his service, earning the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Cross for his bravery on the battlefields of the Western Front.
He was Captain Clarence Jeffries VC’s Company Sergeant-Major during the second battle of Passchendaele, where he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
After the Battle of Passchendaele, Sergeant Bruce was promoted to Acting Company Sergeant Major when CDM Ernest John Harman was wounded in action, and then promoted to second Lieutenant.
He received a Military Cross for his actions on the night of April 4, 1918 in an attack on the enemy line in the vicinity of Villers-Bretonneux.
Lt Bruce was killed in action on July 17, 1918. He was laid to rest in the Villers-Bretonneux Cemetery.
As part of the gates’ centenary, the school has decided to dedicate a memorial to Lt Bruce.
The Bruce family have a long traditional with the school, with many direct descendants of Lt Bruce having attended Pelaw Main Public School.
At present, the school has four students who are descendants – Amy and Kye Boughton, Caleb Jenkins and Hayley Robertson. The school’s P&C treasurer, Rowena Boughton, is also a descendant of Lt Bruce.
Local resident Beth Masterman OAM is assisting the school’s principal Merilyn Burton with plans for the memorial and official ceremony.
Mrs Burton said the school would welcome any further information or photographs to ensure they can be included in the centenary celebrations. Contact the school on 4937 1314 or pelawmain-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
The following article appeared in the Advertiser’s Centenary of Anzac feature on April 22, 2015.
Feats of courage recognised
Pelaw Main coal miner James Bruce was Captain Clarence Jeffries VC’s Company Sergeant-Major during the second battle of Passchendaele on October 12, 1917 when the 34th Battalion advanced.
When all of the officers in the 34th Battalion had become casualties in the battle of Passchendaele, Sergeant Bruce organised the remnant of the battalion and gave order to dig a new defence line which was held until the battalion was ordered to withdraw that afternoon
For his gallantry, bravery and leadership under extreme adversity in Passchendaele, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
After the Battle of Passchendaele, Sergeant Bruce was promoted to Acting Company Sergeant Major when CDM Ernest John Harman was wounded in action, and then promoted to second Lieutenant on November 18, 1917.
Lieutenant Bruce was Detached to Gas School for a week and returned to the Battalion on December 22.
He was granted leave from February 4-24, 1918 before returning to the front line in France. He was again promoted to Lieutenant on March 16 and on April 4, led his platoon with great dash, rushing an advanced enemy machine gun position, killing the crew and capturing the gun. In the battle, he killed several of the enemy himself.
He then organised and led a party that succeeded in wiping out the enemy. This feat of courageousness earned Lieutenant Bruce a Military Cross.
He was then wounded in action on May 8, 1918 receiving a gun-shot wound to the shoulder and evacuated to 8th General Hospital in Rouen. He was in Hospital for less than three weeks before re-joining his company. He was killed in action at Villers-Bretonneux, France on July 17, 1918.
