Dent, Bruce Ingham

Date of birth:: November 14th, 1921 (Timaru/Canterbury, New Zealand)
Date of death:: March 25th, 1944
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery New Zealand Bourail
Plot: 4. Grave: 10.
Service number:: 285658
Nationality:: New Zealander (1907-1947, Dominion UK)

Biography

Paul Wilding compiled a number of professionally produced narratives on Lt. Dent:

* Soldiers in the Air
* A pictorial narrative of 1st Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment troops involved in the major mopping-up operations after the Battle of Bougainville.
* Fact file #1. Killed in action, Roll of Honour, M.C. Medals.

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Military Cross (MC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Second-Lieutenant
Unit:: 2nd Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Defence Force
Awarded on:: June 6th, 1944

"Between the 31st January 1944 and 2nd February 1944, Second Lieutenant Dent commanded a combat and reconnaisance patrol in Japanese held territory in the vicinity of Pipipaia on the east coast of Bougainville. On 31st January, Second Lieutenant Dent received word that Japanese were in the vicinity of Pipipaia village. He determined to push on...until on the morning of 1st February his platoon made contact with the enemy. Second Lieutenant Dent decided to engage them, and by his complete disregard and skill in handling the situation, inspired his men who succeeded in definetly killing 47 Japanese and possibly more and NO casualties were suffered by Second Lieutenant Dent’s platoon...When the enemy showed no signs of following Second Lieutenant Dent withdrew to his base in Ibu. Again from the 6th to 7th February 1944 Second Lieutenant Dent on reconnaisance in the same area made contact with a Japanese ambush and so capably handled his platoon that after a stiff fire fight he was able to withdraw: two Japanese having been killed for certain and probably several othere from grenades. His platoon again suffered no casualties.”

Posthumously awarded