Reid, Francis Bruce

Francis Bruce Reid (1913-1988), known as Bruce, was the only child of Robert Bruce Reid (1884-1969) and Ethel Mary Reid (nee Simpson) (1879-1946). His grandfather James had worked on the surfboats that brought passengers and supplies ashore to New Plymouth and his father Robert was an accountant who served as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 11^th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles) Territorial Force during the First World War.

Bruce was born in New Plymouth on 25 August 1913 and attended Westown School, where he won a scholarship for achieving the best grades in the province in 1927, then New Plymouth Boys' High School. He was an enthusiastic tennis player and performed in productions for the New Plymouth Little Theatre as well as serving on its committee. Bruce worked for well-known businessman Newton King after secondary school before leaving Taranaki in 1937 to follow in his father’s footsteps and study accountancy in Wellington.

Bruce became an Air Force trainee when the Second World War broke out, completing his training at the No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School at Bell Block in November 1940. He then served overseas for two years as a pilot and navigator with No.9 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, initially stationed at Uxbridge, England then Manchester. Bruce took part in Operation Millennium, the historic 1000-bomber raid over the German industrial city of Cologne on the night of 30-31 May 1942, as well as other raids across Europe.

While he was overseas, Bruce’s parents are recorded as donating cash – amounting to hundreds of dollars in today’s money – to various patriotic and welfare appeals in New Plymouth including the Red Cross sick and wounded fund.

Returning to New Zealand in 1943, Bruce served as Warrant Officer at the RNZAF base at Ohakea. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 1 August 1944 then a Flying Officer on 1 February 1945. He was later awarded the War Medal 1939-1945 and the New Zealand Service War Medal.

Bruce married Rhoda June Goodey (1927-1996) in 1948 and the couple had three children, Judith, Paula and Susan. They made their home in Whanganui, where Bruce died on 6 February 1988 aged 74. A member of the Taranaki Alpine Club since his youth, his ashes were scattered up Taranaki Mounga at Wilkie’s Pools.