Dowding, Kenneth Bruce (OW1929)

Bruce entered the school in 1929 as a student. He returned to teach the Junior school in 1933. He went on leave to France in 1938-39 to further study French. On the outbreak of war he joined the British Expeditionary Forces. He was captured by the Germans early in the war and spent time in POW camps. He escaped and joined the French Underground where he helped civilian refugees and military who had been shot down. He was betrayed to the Gestapo, arrested and soon after executed. He was listed as alive in a POW camp in 1942, but later missing presumed dead. Confirmation came later.

A prize for French was named in his honour, and a boat also named after him in 1964.

See attachments for more images, and secondary People entry for his military service

see the link to the article in the Age 29th July 2023 about the forth coming book about him.