Lives of the First World War

known 30th May 1918

Philip Thomson Bruce, elder son of Thomas W Bruce, of Birkenhead, was born June 13 1898 and was shot down south of Albert, on May 30 1918. He entered the school in 1909, having previously been in the Preparatory and left in 1916. He was in the football XV and was of the light plucky type. In the School Corps, he held the rank of Lance-Corporal. He joined the Liverpool Scottish in July 1916 and soon afterwards was sent to an O.C.B. Transferring to the R.A.F., after some months' training he went out to France on March 30 1918 and joined the 43rd Squadron. After being reported 'missing' for some weeks, news was received from Germany that he had been shot down and killed. His Squadron Commander wrote:- 'He was on patrol duty with the rest of the flight, when they got into a scrap with a number of Huns, south of Bapaume. He was last seen fighting with three of four Huns, of whom two were engaged and drawn off by his Flight Commander. He was seen diving down, having control of his machine but was not seen again. He is a great loss to the Squadron as he was very keen and an excellent pilot. He is credited with putting a Hun down in flames in the last fight.'

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