Private Thomas Bruce

Private Thomas Bruce, 1st Battalion, Scots Guards. He died of wounds in hospital in London on 2nd December 1914, aged 24 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. He had been born in Lauder and was a Regular Soldier and the son of Richard and Janet Bruce of “Leadervale “, Lauder and brother of George Bruce ( see above ). The day before he died his parents had received a letter from him advising them he was fine but that he had had a leg amputated. At the time his three brothers were also serving, one ( George ) in the Scots Guards, one in the K.O.S.B. and one with the 1/4th ( Border) Battalion K.O.S.B. He had been badly wounded in the leg by shellfire during the Battle of Nonne Boschen ( part of the wider Battle of First Ypres) His leg was amputated in a London hospital but six days later he died of heart failure. His parents later received his effects which consisted of 4 packets of cigarettes, 24 coins, an identity disc, a tin of tobacco, his pipe, a cardigan, a handkerchief, a sock, a belt, his razor and Army 2nd and 3rd class Certificates of Education. Before enlisting in 1908 he had been employed as a groom. The photographs show British troops in defensive positions near Ypres.