Australia has a proud history of honouring its fallen soldiers, and the Bundaberg Region is part of that tradition with 34 streets named after servicemen.
In July 1951, 24 of the 34 streets named after servicemen from the two World Wars were gazetted, and included the names of Eastgate, Greenwood, Scotton and Chapman.
One of these soldiers faced the most overwhelming odds in any armed conflict in Australia’s history, and in doing so left an indelible mark on his country’s identity for the next 100 years.
Major Duncan Chapman was the first man ashore in the Gallipoli Landing on 25 April 1915, and has had a local street named in his honour.
Major Chapman saw active duty at Gallipoli, and he was killed in action in Pozieres, France, in August 1916 before being interred at Pozieres British Cemetery.
After the initial naming of Chapman Street, Kepnock in 1951, it was renamed Major Chapman Street in 1997.
Details of Major Chapman’s history is found in two books written by the Bundaberg Genealogical Association: Supreme Sacrifices of the Great War, and Letters from Soldiers in the Great War, 1914-1916 Part 1.
Major Chapman was attached to the famous Ninth Battalion, which wrote in letters “The Birth of Australia as a Fighting Nation” on the shores of Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.
“The many friends Major D. Chapman, eldest son of Mr R.A Chapman and brother of Mrs W.H Wearne, will regret to learn that he had been killed in action in France on the 5th or 6th August,” the article states.
“The telegram conveying the sad news was received in Bundaberg on Wednesday evening, and yesterday Rev. J. Steer (Gin Gin) proceeded to Mt Perry to break the news to Mrs Wearne.”
The article stated Major Chapman was a universal favourite of all who knew him, reporting that before his death he fought bravely in France with the rest of his comrades, as they did at the Dardanelles, until he fell.
All Bundaberg streets named after soldiers
The soliders that were honoured with street names in the Bundaberg Region in July 1951 include: RA Larsen – AIF, ML Eastgate – RAAF, J Aitkenhead – AIF, L Barritt – AIF, C Highland – AIF, N Jones – AIF, JJ Massey – AIF, TA Orr – RAAF, AD Drewe – RAAF, L Row and FN Row – AIF, WA Laack – AIF, H Livingstone – AIF, JH Greenwood – RAN, FE Galley – (WWI), D Chapman (WWI), JN Scotton – RAAF, VL Bust – RAAF, O McKewen – AIF, HJ Ross – RAAF, RW Parry – RAAF, JF Glasgow – (WWI), AE Watkin – RAAF, G Halpin – merchant navy, and AS Tummon – AIF.
In November, of the same year, another seven were added; Noel Ritchie, Mark Cummins who went down with the hospital ship Centaur, DJ Lester – RAAF, J McNeillly – AIF, VC Buzza – AIP, Roy Hay – RAAF and Eric Roselt – AIF.
And Council later named another three streets after servicemen; Arthur William Melvin, RCH Logan and Lloyd Street for Lloyd Henry Jones because Jones Street had already been used.
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