A street named for a long-standing local family now bears the rising sun badge of the Australian Army in recognition of the wartime service of family member Lance Corporal Henry Herbert Ellis.
Ellis Street in Bundaberg North was named on 3 June 1974 in honour of the Ellis family who lived in the Bundaberg Region post-World War II, with relatives still residing in the area to this day.
Henry Ellis was born in Burnie, Tasmania on 21 October 1914 and enlisted for the Australian Military Forces on 27 May 1940, aged 25 years.
He was living in Brisbane with his wife Christina and working as a mail contractor at the time he enlisted.
After undertaking initial training in Enoggera and Redbank, Henry embarked overseas to the Middle East in December 1940.
In early 1943 he returned to Australia and was transferred to the 2nd/2nd Machine Gun Battalion before embarking again overseas, this time to Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.
He was wounded in action on 15 September 1943 and evacuated with gunshot wounds to his right knee and left arm.
Henry was serving as a truck and tractor driver with the battalion when he was discharged on 16 November 1944, having served 1,635 days of active duty.
For his service, Henry was awarded the 1939/45 Star, Africa Star and Pacific Star, along with the 8th Army Clasp.
Henry passed away in Bundaberg on 1 September 2000, aged 85 years.
Information about Lance Corporal Henry Ellis’ life and service is from the National Archives of Australia, Virtual War Memorial and the Streets of Remembrance application.
Streets of Remembrance
Bundaberg Regional 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.
Although Henry was not born in Bundaberg, the Ellis and Weber families are related and settled in the Bundaberg Region post-war, with veterans from both families recognised under the program.
More information about Bundaberg Regional Council’s Streets of Remembrance program and how to nominate a street or service person is available here.
