February 7, 2024

Bruce Wynter Warden: A very fine man who rose from the ranks

One of the first men from Milton Ulladulla to enlist into WW1 was Bruce Wynter Warden, the second son of Winter David and Margaret Wallace Warden (nee Kendall). Bruce was born in December 1893 at his family home at Mount Airlie Milton. His brothers Wynter Wallace, Neil Wynter and David Wynter Warden followed his footsteps and also served in WW1.

Bruce enlisted in Sydney in September 1914 at the age of 20 years. He was appointed as a Private with the First Australian Light Horse and embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A16 Star of Victoria on 20 October 1914. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 11 August 1915 at Gallipoli, and to Sergeant while serving in Egypt in January 1916 with the Light Horse remount.

He arrived in France for service on the Western Front in March 1917 and transferred to the 56th Battalion. In July 1917 he was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Bruce died of wounds received in action at Polygon Wood, Ypres, Belgium on 27 September 1917 at the age of 23 years. He is buried at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Belgium. All his personal effects were returned to his father Winter Warden of Mount Airlie Milton the following year.

As a young boy Bruce lived at Mount Airlie which still adorns the Milton landscape today, attending Croobyar Public School he later attended school at Barker College at Hornsby and he was working as a clerk in Sydney at the time of his enlistment. Bruce Wynter Warden, 2nd Lieutenant, Service Number 542 received the 1914-1915 Star, British WM and Victory Medal. His name is listed on the following local Honour Rolls, RSL Honour Roll, St Peters & Paul Church of England and Croobyar Public School in addition to the Milton Town Memorial and the Kendall Cottage Memorial.

To Our Fallen Comrades
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning.
We will remember them.
Lest We Forget

This gallant Anzac who fought through Gallipoli and on the fields of Flanders has paid the last and penalty having given his young life to uphold the honor of the Empire and in defence of his native land; knowing that even as you admired his splendid conduct and honor the action that call him hence so do you feel the deepest sympathy for his bereaved family.- William Riley Mayor Ulladulla.

Bruce Warden Photo: AWM P08706.003