Lieut.-Col. John Bruce died at home in St. George's Terrace, Perth on Saturday November 5, 1870, after a sudden and severe attack from an illness which had afflicted him for nearly three months. He was 62-years-old.

John Bruce was born in Athlone, Ireland, on July 25, 1808. He arrived in the Swan River Colony with his family and a group Pensioner Guards aboard the colony's first convict ship, the Hashemy, on October 24, 1850. He married Johannah Jacoba Herklotz in India in 1828 and all of their seven children were born in India except for the youngest who was born in France. They were Charlotte Elizabeth, Jane Mary, Mary, Caroline, Clarrie, Emily Helen and Edward.

He was a commissioned Officer in the British Army for forty-two years, originally joining the 16th Foot Regiment in 1828 and serving in India as an Ensign.

On the April 21, 1831, he was promoted to Lieutenant and in 1840 he returned to England. On August 19, 1842, he was promoted to Captain in the 18th Royal Irish Regiment.

When war broke out with China in 1847, he was appointed Assistant Adjutant General to the Forces under Sir George D'Augilor, and was present when the Bogue was captured on April 3, 1847; and similarly with the Bocoo Tigres and Barrier Forte on April 28, in the Canton River region.

On January 23, 1850, he was promoted to Staff Officer for the Pensioner Force and held that post for 20 years. He was sent to Western Australia in 1850 in charge of the Convict Stations. In 1855 he became the Commandant of the Western Australian Military Force and held that position for 16 years. In 1863 he became a Colonel in the Volunteers Force that he was organising.

John Bruce was a Member of the Legislative Council and the Executive Council in 1854, and much later served as the Acting Governor of Western Australia in February, 1862, after Governor Kennedy left, and again in 1868-69 after Governor Hampton left.

He was also noted as a philanthropist and soon after his arrival spent a lot of time setting up the Pensioner's Villages. He also adopted measures to provide care for the old soldiers and established a Pensioner's Benevolent Fund in Perth. He was actively involved with other institutions like the Mechanics' Institute of Perth and the Perth Building Society.

BRUCE.--On the 5th Nov., 1870, at Perth, Western Australia, where he held the appointment of Staff Officer of Pensioners for 20 years, and that of Commandant of the Troops 16 years, Lieut.-Colonel John Bruce, aged 62, after a sudden and severe attack of illness of nearly three months' duration.

[Perth Gazette & W.A. Times, Fri. November 11, 1870, p2]

JOHN BRUCE, Lieutenant Colonel, Commandant of Her Majesty's Forces in Western Australia, and Member of the Executive Council thereof, died at his residence in St. George's Terrace, Perth, on Saturday the 5th November. The deceased Colonel was born in the town of Athlone, Ireland, on the 25th July, 1808, and had been a commissioned Officer for no less than forty-two years, having joined the 16th regt. of Foot as Ensign in the year 1828. On the 21st April, 1831, he was appointed Lieut, and on the 19th of August, 1842, was promoted to the rank of Captain in the 18th Royal Irish. On the breaking out of the war with China in 1847, the deceased Colonel, conspicuous for his talents and soldier like bearing, was appointed Assistant Adjutant General to the Forces under Sir George D'Augilor, and was present at, and assisted in the capture of the Bogue, April 3rd 1847, and of the Bocoo Tigres, and Barrier Forte (on 28th April of the same year, in the Canton River,) mounting in all 879 pieces of heavy ordnance. The gallant Colonel was also present and took active part in the operations before Canton. Her Majesty's Government considering the eminent services rendered by Colonel Bruce, and seeing the necessity of appointing an efficient Officer to the command of the Pensioner Force in this Colony, the office of Staff Officer was conferred upon him on the 23rd January 1850. Colonel Bruce arrived in this Colony per ship Hashemy on the 24 October 1850. Shortly after his arrival in this Colony, Colonel Bruce devoted a considerable period of his time to the formation of Pensioner's Villages, and to the adoption of measures having for their object the good and welfare of the old soldier.Imbued with a purely philanthropic idea, Colonel Bruce established in Perth, a Pensioner's Benevolent Fund, the good results of which are now most highly appreciated by those for whom it was established. During his long residence of 20 years in this Colony, Colonel Bruce, as a Military man, proved himsself a thorough disciplinarian, and as a Member of our Legislative Council an able debater, -- a thoroughly independant and honest Member, and a true friend of Western Australia. To the Military ordeur and untiring zeal of the gallant Colonel, the Perth Metropolitan Volunteers, not only owe their existence, but their present efficiency and discipline. But not only in his Military and Senatorial capacity was Colonel Bruce known and respected in Western Australia. Ever ready was he to do his utmost for the well being and progress of our Colony, and his connection with our Mechanics' Institute, Pensioners' Benevolent Society, Perth Building Society, and other Institutions in our City, will long be remembered, and will endear his memory to all the Colonists and sincere philanthropists. On the departure of His Excellency Governor Kennedy in February, 1862, Colonel Bruce assumed the office of Governor, and during the interregnum between the retirement of the late Governor Hampton and the arrival of His Excellency Governor Weld, the responsibilities of Government again devolved upon the gallant Colonel. During that period, albeit good report and bad report, Acting Governor John Bruce did his work faithfully, honestly, and conscientously. It is not the lot of a man in power to please all, but work, honestly performed, never fails to meet with recognition. To the immediate friends of the late deeply lamented Colonel, it must be a solace indeed to know, that during his sojourn in this Colony, he had by his straight forward conduct, honesty of purpose, and uprightness of principle, earned for himself, the respect, esteem, and regard of all classes. The good which the late Colonel John Bruce effected for Western Australia will now be as fully recognized, as his loss, to a young and struggling community, is sincerely and deeply deplored.