A Bullyard road named for the Messenger Family, who were a pioneer family in the area, has been added to Bundaberg Regional Council’s Streets of Remembrance program.
The Messengers Road street sign now bears the badge of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in honour of Leading Aircraftman Kevin Robert Messenger as part of the program.
Kevin was born in Bundaberg on 5 July 1925, the eldest child of Robert and Mary Messenger.
He attended Maroondan State School and his interests, as listed on RAAF interview documents, included boxing, cricket, wrestling and swimming.
Prior to enlistment, he worked on farms in the Bullyard area and as a fireman on a locomotive for Bingera Mill.
Kevin enlisted in the RAAF Ground Staff section as a general hand on 29 July 1943 at age 18 and was given the rank Leading Aircraftman on 1 August 1944.
He undertook training in Sandgate, Amberley and Oakey before embarking from Townsville to Morotai, Indonesia on 1 January 1945 as part of the 75 Squadron.
According to the Australian War Memorial, the RAAF 75 Squadron ground crew were part of the forward troops to land at Tarakan, north-east Borneo, as part of the operation to recapture the island from Japanese occupation.
Following the end of World War II in the Pacific in early September 1945, the ground crew returned to Australia aboard HMS Glory, arriving in Sydney on 22 December 1945.
Kevin was formally discharged from the RAAF on 19 February 1946.
After the war, Kevin returned to the Bullyard area and recommenced his employment at Bingera Sugar Mill, where he was injured in a locomotive accident in 1950.
Information about Leading Aircraftman Kevin Messenger’s life and service is from the National Archives of Australia and the Australian War Memorial.
Service Number: 150281
Streets of Remembrance
Council’s Streets of Remembrance program recognises the service of veterans with a connection to the Bundaberg Region by adding the badge of the military force in which they served to the street sign of streets named in their honour.
More information about Bundaberg Regional Council’s Streets of Remembrance program and how to nominate a street or service person is available here.
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