Bruce Caryle Ruxton OBE AM (born 6 February 1926) is Australian and known as the former President of the Victorian Returned and Services League and was also on its executive committee. OBE can mean several things, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, distinction of honour. ... Look up AM, A.M., Am, am, a. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Returned and Services League of Australia (often abbreviated to RSL) is a support organisation for men and women who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force. ...

Early life

He grew up in Kew, Victoria. Kew is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, in the state of Victoria. ... Capital Melbourne Government Const. ...

War service

He enlisted in the Australian Army on 22 February 1944 and served in the Second World War in the South West Pacific Area, the Netherlands East Indies and Balikpapan in Borneo, and for three years he served in Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, as a rifleman in the 2/25 Australian Infantry Battalion of the 7th Division. He was discharged on 12 January 1949 but was not promoted beyond Private. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... South West Pacific Area (SWPA) was the name given to one of the four major Allied commands in the Pacific theatre of World War II, during 1942-45. ... The Dutch East Indies, or Netherlands East Indies, (Dutch: Nederlands-Indië) was the name of the colonies set up by the Dutch East India Company, which came under administration of the Netherlands during the 19th century (see Indonesia). ... Combatants Australia, United States Japan For other uses of this term, see Battle of Balikpapan. ... Borneo is the third largest island in the world. ... The 2nd Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles marching through Kure soon after their arrival in Japan. ...

Representing the war veterans

After his war service, he became a vocal spokesman on behalf of war veterans and their families, ensuring that they got their pensions and entitlements. As the Second World War veterans got older, he lobbied on their behalf regarding issues such as nursing homes and retirement accommodation.

In 1975 he received the MBE, the OBE in 1981, the AM in 1996, and in 1997 the Chevalier of Order of Merit from Jacques Chirac. Also he received the Légion d'honneur. Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire (Military division) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire (Military division) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority... Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, wearing on her left shoulder the Order of Australias Sovereign Badge. ... Ordre National du Mérite The Ordre National du Mérite (in English: The National Order of Merit) is an Order of Chivalry awarded by the President of France. ... Jacques René Chirac (born November 29, 1932) has served as the Gaullist President of France since he was first elected in 1995. ... Chiang Kai-sheks Légion dhonneur. ...

In the 1998 Constitutional Convention for the Republic he represented monarchist group Safeguard the People. Monarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy. ...

Following two years of ill-health due to viral pneumonia during a visit to Boer War sites Ruxton resigned from the RSL in June 2002. Pneumonia is an illness of the lungs and respiratory system in which the alveoli (microscopic air-filled sacs of the lung responsible for absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere) become inflamed and flooded with fluid. ...

Popular culture

A character originally from Australia You're Standing In It (and later in Fast Forward), Bruce Rump, was based on him. Bruce Rump would rant in a voice similar to Ruxton's, sometimes reaching a violent frenzy and ending with the non sequitur "... and that's why we should keep the bloody flag the same!" Australia Youre Standing In It was an Australian sketch comedy series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, first screened in 1983 with a second series made in 1984. ... Fast Forward was an Australian commercial television sketch comedy show that ran for 95 episodes from 12 April 1989 to 26 November 1992. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Australia is blue with the flag of the United Kingdom (the Union Flag) in the canton (the upper hoist-side quadrant), and a large seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star (six points representing the six original states and one point for the territories and any future states of...

Ruxton made fun of himself by releasing a rap single, in which he lampooned his own persona.

External links

• Ruxton as delegate in the Constitutional Convention 1998, including statements and speeches
• from Anne Blair's biography Ruxton (2004), describing how Ruxton helped the Vietnam veterans
• This review, from the Australian Public Institute by Martin Crothy, tells more about Ruxton's war service and his outspoken comments on many issues.
• Bruce Ruxton Rap Single from 1992