Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Younger of the two brothers (John and James) who served in WWII, Pilot Officer James Caird Bruxner (Service Nos:NX78322/445638) initially served in the AIF. Gunner Bruxner enlisted in the Army on 13 December 1941, and was a Corporal attached to 7th Armoured Regiment when he Discharged on 10 July 1944 to enlist the following day in the RAAF as a Leading Aircraftman at No 2 Recruiting Centre Sydney. Pilot Officer Bruxner was attached to 7 Operational Training Wing at Discharge on 11 October 1945.

Tim was born in Tenterfield, New South Wales in 1923, youngest of three children of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Michael (Mick) Frederick Bruxner KBE DSO (b1882 at Sandilands Station via Tabulam, New South Wales) and Lady Winifred (Midge) Catherine Hay Caird (b1883 in Kiama, New South Wales). Mick studied Arts and Law at Sydney University, and was a Grazier and Stock and Station Agent (Bruxner & Cotton) in Tenterfield in 1908 when he and Midge married in Kiama. Mick, an amateur Jockey, was President of the Tenterfield Jockey Club, and in 1911 was Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Light Horse (New England) Regiment. Mick served in the AIF in WWI (Lieutenant Colonel; 6th Light Horse Regiment and Australian HQ Egypt) and was WiA at Gallipoli. For his service, he was awarded the French Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (1916) and the Distinguished Service Order (1918). Following his Discharge from the Army, Mick sold his Stock & Station Agency and he and Midge settled at Roseneath, where they raised their family and Mick was a Grazier, raising Hereford Cattle. From the 1920s Mick became a politician in the emerging Country Party. His political career - well documented - included diverse Ministerial Portfolios, and from 1941 to  1958 he led the Country Party in five elections. Midge served on a number of charities (including the Far West Children's Organistion and the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society) and in WWII was a Red Cross Worker. In 1962 Mick retired from the Assembly, and that year was appointed Knight of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). Sir James was described as 'a natural politician and natural leader, who combined a cheerful smile and an approachable manner with a personal dignity which he never lost: for most of his political life he was referred to as 'The Colonel' (Australian Dictionary of Biography: 1979).

Tim was School Captain of Cranbrook  School in 1940, and was an Articled Law Clerk and student at Sydney University in 1941 when he enlisted - initially in the AIF and then the RAAF. In 1945 in Sydney, Tim married Margaret Ann McLeish (b1923 in Sydney, New South Wales). Tim and Margaret settled on Old Auburnvale Station near Inverell, where they raised their family and Tim was  a Grazier and breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle. Tim was Member of the NSW Legislative Asembly from 1962 to 1981, with diverse Ministerial Portfolios, and was Deputy Leader of the Country Party NSW (1975 to 1981). He was granted by Queen Elizabeth II (on the Governor's recommendation) retention for life of the title 'The Honourable'. Tim and Margaret retired to their property near Inverell. Margaret died in 1993, and Tim died in 2017. 'Many residents of Tenterfield will remember him as our Member of Parliament and friend to many. A true gentleman in every sense of the word, Tim was widely admired for his high principles, integrity and wisdom. We are all grateful for the significant and distinguished innings which he has played in the game of life. He was indeed an honourable man' (Tenterfield Memories; 2017).