Bruce Kingsbury Bruce Steel Kingsbury , VC ( 8 January 1918 – 29 August 1942 ) was an Australian soldier of the Second World War . Serving initially in the Middle East , he gained renown for his actions during the Battle of Isurava , one of many battles forming the Kokoda Track campaign in New Guinea . His bravery during the battle was recognised with the Victoria Cross , the highest decoration for gallantry " in the face of the enemy " that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces . The first serviceman to receive the VC in Australian territory , Kingsbury was a member of the highly decorated 2 / 14th Infantry Battalion . On 29 August 1942 , during the Battle of Isurava , Kingsbury was one of the few survivors of a platoon that had been overrun by the Japanese . He immediately volunteered to join a different platoon , which had been ordered to counterattack . Rushing forward and firing his Bren gun from the hip , he cleared a path through the enemy and inflicted a number of casualties . Kingsbury was then seen to fall , shot by a Japanese sniper and killed instantly . His actions , in delaying the Japanese long enough for the Australians to fortify their positions , were instrumental in saving Battalion Headquarters , and he was awarded the Victoria Cross as a result . Early life . Born in Preston , Melbourne on 8 January 1918 , Kingsbury was the second son of Philip Blencowe Kingsbury , an estate agent , and his wife Florence Annie , née Steel . Growing up in the suburb of Prahran , Kingsbury became friends with Allen Avery when he was five years old . The two often raced billycarts down the hilly streets , and would remain lifelong friends . Kingsbury attended Windsor State School as a child , and his results were good enough to earn a scholarship at Melbourne Technical College . Avery began an agricultural course in Longerenong . Although qualified as a printer , Kingsbury began working at his father ' s real estate business , a job which he disliked . Unhappy in the estate agency , Kingsbury took up the position of caretaker on a farm at Boundary Bend , not far from where Avery was working . After three months , the pair decided that they would go on an adventure – walking through western Victoria and New South Wales . In February 1936 , Kingsbury and Avery left their jobs and began travelling north , working on various farms and estates . The pair eventually arrived in Sydney several months later , and returned to Melbourne on the first train back . Kingsbury resumed working as a real estate agent , while Avery worked as a nurseryman . They spent their free time at dances and parties . During this time , Kingsbury met and became close to Leila Bradbury . As the war in Europe escalated , Kingsbury and Avery made up their minds to enlist . Despite his parents ' disapproval , Kingsbury signed up to the Australian Imperial Force on 29 May 1940 . Middle East . Kingsbury was originally assigned to the 2 / 2 Pioneers , but requested a transfer to the 2 / 14th Infantry Battalion to join Avery who had , coincidentally , enlisted on the same day at a different recruitment centre . The pair undertook basic training at Puckapunyal , a part of Seventh Section of 9 Platoon , where they were given drill instruction , rifle drill and mock battle training . After the Seventh Section learned they would be sent overseas , Kingsbury informed Avery that he planned to propose to Leila . The pair went to Melbourne to try to organise the wedding . Although Kingsbury gave Leila a wristwatch as an engagement present , they could not arrange a marriage licence before he left , and the marriage never took place . Kingsbury , along with the rest of the 7th Division , was shipped to the Middle East aboard HMT " Aquitania " . Spending time in Tel Aviv and the surrounding areas , the 7th Division continued training and awaited further orders . On 9 April , the division was sent forward to Mersa Matruh in Egypt to support the Commonwealth force ' s defences . They replaced a Scottish unit and took up positions in the garrison . On 23 May , Kingsbury ' s brigade was sent back to Palestine , en route to battle in Syria and Lebanon . The 2 / 14th fought against the Vichy French on the Lebanese mountain ranges , coordinating a three - pronged attack on Beirut . During this time , the division fought in many towns , including a major battle in Jezzine , where Avery was wounded by a grenade — which drove metal splinters into his spine — and awarded the Military Medal for his " cool courage and devotion " . As the war with the Vichy French was winding down , on 11 July Kingsbury and Avery were selected for a contingent to collect and bury the dead . The battalion stayed in Beirut for a few months , until setting up a semi - permanent camp at Hill 69 , outside Jerusalem . On 30 January 1942 , the 7th Division left Egypt for Australia , sailing via Bombay . Kingsbury ' s battalion made landfall at Adelaide and continued to Melbourne by rail . The battalion arrived on 16 March , and was given a week ' s leave . After this , the battalion underwent training in Glen Innes , before camping in Yandina , Queensland . On 5 August , the battalion moved north to Brisbane , boarding a ship to Port Moresby . Kokoda Track Campaign . The Japanese Army had for several months been making great progress in its Pacific War campaign . After the Japanese captured Singapore in February 1942 , many Australians believed that New Guinea was the next major target , effectively isolating Australia from its allies . The Japanese had captured Rabaul in New Britain in January , and on 21 July , landed at Buna , northeast Papua . After capturing the town of Kokoda for the second time on 9 August , the Japanese began marching along the Kokoda Track towards Port Moresby . The 2 , 500 strong Japanese army met the 39th , 49th and 53rd Infantry Battalions , collectively 400 strong , at the town of Isurava . As the Japanese attacked , they managed to push the 53rd back to a junction behind Isurava . It was at the height of the battle , on 26 August , that the members of the 2 / 14th , including Kingsbury , arrived at Isurava to provide reinforcements . Despite the reinforcements , the Australians were outnumbered five to one . Battle of Isurava . The two combined battalions began digging in around Isurava . A headquarters had been set up at the top of the hill , which was vital to the defence of the position . While the Australians dug themselves in , the Japanese , led by Japanese Major General Tomitarō Horii , prepared to attack . On 28 August , the Japanese launched their offensive . The Australians were outnumbered by as many as six to one , yet resisted in the face of heavy machine - gun fire and hand - to - hand combat . On 29 August , the Japanese broke through the right flank , pushing the Australians back with heavy fire , threatening to cut off their headquarters . The Australians began to prepare a counter - offensive , and men volunteered to join an attack party . Kingsbury , one of the few survivors of his platoon , ran down the Track with the group . Using a Bren Gun he had taken from wounded Corporal Lindsay Bear , Kingsbury , alongside Avery and the rest of the group , engaged the nearby Japanese . The fire was so heavy that the undergrowth was completely destroyed within five minutes . It was then that Kingsbury , firing from his hip , charged straight at the Japanese . His actions demoralised the Japanese , killing as many as 30 soldiers , while forcing the remainder to find cover . The rest of the Australian group , inspired by Kingsbury ' s actions , forced the Japanese further back into the jungle . Kingsbury was then seen to fall to the ground , shot by a Japanese sniper . The sniper fired one shot before disappearing . Avery , who had been about 6 ft ( 1 . 8m ) from Kingsbury , briefly chased after the sniper , but returned to carry Kingsbury to the Aid Post ; Kingsbury was dead by the time he arrived there . Legacy . Kingsbury ' s actions were a turning point in the battle . The Japanese had begun to gather momentum in their attack , and were threatening to overrun Battalion Headquarters . His attack inflicted damage to the Japanese force , effectively halting their advance . This allowed the Australian troops to stabilise their positions , eventually regaining control and defending the Battalion Headquarters . His act of bravery served as an inspiration to the troops . Authors and military analysts have speculated that had Kingsbury not attacked , the Japanese might have destroyed the battalion . The Japanese had been attacking in waves , and had started to climb a steep hill to outflank the Australians , in an effort to win the battle . The Australians were low on supplies and the Japanese were on the verge of breaking through the Australian line . Had they broken through , they would have been able to isolate the Battalion Headquarters from the soldiers on the flanks . This would have prevented the Australians from retreating to Alola , allowing the Japanese to overrun them . For his actions , Kingsbury was awarded the Victoria Cross , which was gazetted on 9 February 1943 . His citation read : Kingsbury was the first Australian soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross in the South Pacific , and also the first on Australian territory . Seven Section of 9 Platoon , 2 / 14th Battalion , remains the most highly decorated section in the British Empire , its members having received a Victoria Cross , one Distinguished Conduct Medal and four Military Medal s by war ' s end ; the platoon also holds the distinction of the largest death toll in the Kokoda Campaign . Kingsbury ' s platoon sergeant , Sergeant Robert Thompson , later commented that when he was submitting the recommendation for Kingsbury ' s Victoria Cross , he was asked several times would he " please write it up a bit more with a bit more action and such " , and : Kingsbury ' s Rock , the rock next to which Kingsbury died , stands within sight of the old Battalion Headquarters , and has been incorporated as part of the Isurava Memorial . His body now rests in the Bomana Cemetery , Port Moresby , and his Victoria Cross is on display at the Australian War Memorial , Canberra . The Melbourne suburb of Kingsbury was named in his honour , as was a rest area on the Remembrance Driveway and a street in the Canberra suburb of Gowrie . Kingsbury ' s story was featured in the History Channel production " For Valour " .