A suburban street in Millbank now pays homage to the brave wartime service of four members from the same family.
McLucas Street, Millbank has been badged with the Army Rising Sun and Navy Tudor Crown as part of Bundaberg Regional Council’s Streets of Remembrance program.
The signage recognises William McLucas who served in World War I and World War II, Bundaberg-born brothers Tom and Arthur McLucas, and Raymond McLucas of Childers, who all served in World War II.
The following information was provided by Jan McLucas from her own family history research, the National Archives of Australia and the Australian War Memorial.
Lieutenant Colonel William George McLucas
Born 19 December 1894, William McLucas worked as an engineer prior to enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 1 March 1917 aged 22 years.
William served in the 31st Battalion in the 5th Division of the AIF and embarked on Australian Army Transport Vessel Hororata from Sydney to England, later traveling on to Le Havre, France in September 1917.
For a period, he was Temporary Company Sergeant Major, although his substantive rank during World War I was Sergeant.
He was wounded in action in October 1917 and spent time in hospital and convalescence before rejoining his unit in December.
William was further troubled by health problems requiring treatment in military hospitals in Etaples and Hardelot, before joining the A/Gas Works Party, Australian Army Corps in June 1918.
Little information is available on the working party’s actions however William’s name was Mentioned in Despatch (MiD) in the London Gazette on 11 July 1919.
He received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, and the MiD entitled him to wear an oak leaf emblem in bronze on the ribbon of the Victory Medal.
After the end of the war in 1918, William returned home to Australia on board embarked SS Leicestershire and was discharged from the military in July 1919.
William married Irene Evans in 1920 and returned to his work as an engineer at Millaquin Sugar Mill where he worked for 28 years.
In 1942 during World War II, William joined the Volunteer Defence Corps where he was promoted to Major and then Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 10th Battalion.
He was responsible for safeguarding and intelligence reporting within the Bundaberg district, serving until 1 July 1946.
William was entitled to the Australian Service Medal 1939/45 and the War Medal 1939/45 for his service in World War II.
He is honoured on the Gooburrum State School Honour Roll and the Volunteer Defence Corps Monument at Elliott Heads.
Service Number: 4978 (WWI) and Q207513 (WWII)
Corporal Tom Walker McLucas
Tom Walker McLucas was born in Bundaberg on 30 August 1925 to William and Irene McLucas.
He worked as a bank officer prior to enlisting in the Australian Army on 1 September 1943, aged 18 years old.
After completing training in Warwick, Canungra and Cowra, Tom was posted to 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion.
He embarked on USS General Butner from Townsville in April 1945, arriving in Morotai, Indonesia and traveling from there onboard HMAS Westralia for Tarakan, Borneo.
On 1 May 1945, Tom was part of the amphibious invasion and occupation of Tarakan serving with a mortar section.
After the end of the war in the Pacific, Tom remained in Tarakan until December 1945.
He was then transferred to 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion, returning to Australia onboard HMAS Kanimbla and MV Duntroon, and was demobilised in Brisbane on 9 May 1946.
He served 738 days active service in Australian and 397 days active service overseas.
Tom was awarded the Pacific Star, the Australian Service Medal, the 1939/45 Star Medal and the SW Pacific Clasp for the Pacific Star.
Service Number: QX56122
Chief Petty Officer Arthur William McLucas
Arthur William McLucas was born in Bundaberg on 22 November 1921 to William and Irene McLucas.
In April 1942 he joined the 10th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps as part of the Royal Australian Navy reserve, serving for a time under his father William’s command.
Arthur was 22 years old and working as a fitter and turner when he enlisted full-time in the Navy on 25 July 1944.
He was posted to HMAS Penguin in Balmoral, Sydney on mobilisation then transferred to HMAS Cerberus in Mornington Peninsula, Victoria for training.
In February 1945, Aurther was posted to HMAS Lachlan serving in waters around Tarakan.
Arthur qualified for the rank of Engine Room Artificer IV (Chief Petty Officer) in December 1945 and in 1946 worked on two landing ships.
He was discharged from the Navy on 2 December 1946.
Service Number: B5126
Private Raymond Robert McLucas
Raymond Robert McLucas was born on 20 January 1925 to Robert and Margaret McLucas of MacIllwraith Street, Childers.
He was 18 years old and working as a labourer when he enlisted in the Australian Army on 10 May 1943 after serving one month in the Citizen Military Forces (CMF).
After training in Warwick and Canungra, Queensland, Raymond joined the 2/33rd Australian Infantry Battalion and embarked for Morotai, Indonesia.
In June and July 1945, Raymond was part of the Battle of Balikpapan in Borneo including aboard LCI 1008 as part of a landing party.
The war in the Pacific officially ended on 2 September 1945, and Raymond returned to Australia on US Army Transport Amherst Victory in February 1946.
He was formally discharged from the Army in June 1946 having served 904 days in Australia and 259 days overseas.
Raymond was awarded the 1939/45 Star and Australian Service Medal with Clasp SW Pacific.
He returned to live in the Bundaberg Region.
Service Number: QX52928
