James Bruce Senior

Story:
James Bruce Senior was born in Hinton St. Mary, Dorset, on 9 Jun 1900 the son of Horace Howell Senior (a Farmer) and Gertrude Mary Senior (nee Cole).  He lived his early life at Parish Road, Hinton St. Mary, Dorset, until later when his family moved to East Stour Farm, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School for some of his education.  He enlisted on 2 May 1918 and joined the Royal Air Force as a Private Class 2 (Service No. 175223).  On the 12 Oct 1918 he was promoted to Flight Cadet and became a learner pilot.  During this time his father died in 1918. He was discharged on 23 Feb 1919. No medal records can be found in this case.  He married Winifred Maud Ricketts at the Parish Church in Motcombe on 1 Jan 1920.  The 1921 Census shows him living at Bullen's Farm, East Stour, Dorset, described as a Farmer. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Forest Hill, Bullingdon, Oxfordshire, working as a Lorry Driver for a Builder's Contractor.  He also later moved on to 15 Binswood Avenue, Headington, Oxfordshire from where he died at the Cowley Road Hospital, Oxford, on 25 Sep 1967.