Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of William John CROWL, Armadale, Victoria.

Bruce found his way into the entertainment industry after the war. He had started 3-year industrial design course but quickly began to find work on the stage.

“I also did a course in radio announcing and radio acting in Melbourne [and] eventually got a job as a radio announcer, in Victoria and then in Perth.

After nearly 20 years working in radio and TV with ABC Perth, Bruce returned to Melbourne in the 1980s, where he was cast in some of the biggest television shows being filmed around the city at the time.

Among his credits are the TV shows Neighbours (1989-94), Prisoner (1986), Sons and Daughters (1987), The Flying Doctors (1989), and Janus (1995).

Bruce is a Second World War veteran. Before enlisting, Bruce worked in a small engineering firm importing and servicing furnace control and regulating equipment for the war effort. On 25 May 1943, Bruce enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Bruce commenced basic naval training at HMAS Cerberus between May and August 1943. Bruce then went on to complete his signals training in October 1943. ‘My job was as a visual signalman, a position probably no longer viable’, Bruce says. Bruce served in the South Pacific and the Philippines, onboard the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia. In October 1944, Bruce was involved in the preparatory operations for the assault on the Philippines that enabled General Douglas MacArthur’s ‘return to the Philippines’. Four days later, on 20 October, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Australia was hit on the Bridge by bombs from a Japanese kamikaze aircraft. The ship sustained serious damage. The captain and many of the crew were killed, and numerous others were wounded. HMAS Australia was repaired, and in November 1944, the ship and the crew rejoined the United States 7th Fleet in support of military operations and convoy duty.

Bruce returned to Australia and was posted to HMAS Lonsdale in Melbourne in May 1946 before his discharge from the RAN on 11 June 1946. Many years later, Bruce joined an Association of survivors from the Australia and they enjoyed many pleasant reunions together.

After the war, Bruce completed a course at MIT, then ended up in the entertainment industry as a radio announcer. He also worked behind the scenes in TV in Western Australia. In the 1980s, Bruce worked in minor roles in TV soaps and films made in and around Melbourne.

When Bruce was younger, he built a sailing boat, which was later turned into a school bus and then a motor home in which he travelled around Australia with his wife Kate. He also enjoyed trips overseas. Bruce now likes being a part of the local amateur theatre. Just before his birthday, he will be participating in the One Act Festival and hopes to perform alongside Kate. Bruce remains active by taking care of his home, including mowing the lawn.

Bruce attributes his long life to his positive attitude. Bruce says he doesn’t wait for things to happen, he just keeps going.