Service No. K16347 Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
Died: August 28, 1944.
Bruce was born May 7, 1924 in Ladysmith to John Clyde Carmichael and Isabella Ann Willis. Bruce had four older brothers and three younger sisters. The family lived at Brenton’s Crossing (Cassidy). His father and an uncle were in the Canadian Army in WW1. Three of his brothers were also in the Canadian Armed Forces during WW2. Bruce attended North Oyster School, leaving school after Grade 7 at the age of 14.
Bruce worked in a shingle mill, then as a whistle punk and chokerman in the logging industry.
On January 7, 1943, Bruce enlisted in the Army. After training in Vernon and Calgary, he left for the United Kingdom, arriving there in July, 1943. There he transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders. After further training, Bruce left the UK on October 26, 1943, arriving in Italy on Nov. 9, 1943.
As the Canadian Army moved north along the east coast of Italy, Bruce was wounded in the right calf, taking seven weeks to recover.
Bruce was killed in action on August 28, 1944 during the assault on the eastern side of the “Gothic Line” north of Rome. Initially he was buried near Isola Del Piano, Italy. After the war ended, his remains were moved to Montecchio War Cemetery in the village of Montecchio, west of Pesaro, Italy.
Bruce is commemorated on the Ladysmith Cenotaph.
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