First named on 19 July 1951, Row Street in Kepnock now also bears the Rising Sun badge, honouring the service of Corporal Laurence Row and Gunner Frederick Nicholas Row during World War II.
Corporal Laurence John Row
Corporal Row was born in Bundaberg in 1899 where he worked as a grazier and married Bertha Catherine Row.
He enlisted on 27 May 1940 at the age of 43 to serve in the 10th Battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) during World War II.
The VDC was a part-time volunteer military group comprised of civilians from all walks of life.
The National Archives of Australia notes that, having been maintained in its early years by the RSL, the VDC was later handed into Army control with units trained to defend Australia following Japan’s entry into the war.
The VDC was officially disbanded in 1945.
Gunner Frederick Nicholas Row
Gunner Frederick Nicholas Row was born in Bundaberg on 11 November 1908 and worked as a surveyor’s assistant.
He enlisted in Maryborough on 11 June 1940 aged 31 and served as a gunner in the 2/10 Field Regiment in WWII.
The Australian War Memorial details that, after a period of training, the 2/10 Field Regiment departed from Brisbane for Malaya in 1941 which is where they were when Japan entered the war later that year and invaded.
After months of fighting, the regiment surrendered and became prisoners of war.
Frederick Nicholas Row died while imprisoned in a camp in Thailand with his cause of death noted as illness from starvation and maltreatment.
Streets of Remembrance
The Streets of Remembrance program aims to recognise the service of residents, living or deceased, who served on behalf of the community and nation.
More information about Bundaberg Regional Council’s Streets of Remembrance program and how to nominate a street or service person is available here.
Other Streets of Remembrance stories:
