The badge of the Australian Army has been added to the street sign for Webbers Road in Elliott, to honour the service of Gunner Harold Weber in World War II.
Webbers Road was named after the Weber family, who have longstanding and ongoing connections with the Bundaberg Region.
Bundaberg Regional Council’s Street of Remembrance program sees the badge under which local veterans served added to the signs of Bundaberg Region streets as a tribute to their service.
Harold Weber was born in Texas, Qld, on 22 August 1907 to Charles and Jessie Weber.
He was working as a labourer when he enlisted for service in the Australian Army on 21 June 1940, aged 33 years.
Later that year and prior to embarking for overseas service, Harold married Georgina Potter on 7 December 1940.
Throughout his service, Harold undertook training in Redbank, Queensland, served overseas in the Middle East and New Guinea, and was stationed in Darwin and Townsville.
He held the rank of Gunner with the 2/2 Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Australian Artillery 7th Division.
According to Regiment Association papers held in the State Library of Queensland, the 2/2 Australian Anti Tank Regiment was formed at Redbank in 1940, and was made up mostly of officers, NCOs and other ranks enlisted from a camp at Caloundra.
The Regiment trained in Palestine, then moved to Egypt and the Western Desert where they took up defence of Mersa Matruh before moving to the north of Palestine to take part in the invasion of Syria.
The Regiment returned to Australia, serving in various places within Australia and in Papua New Guinea, and also took part in the occupation of Borneo.
Over the course the war, Harold served 766 days active service in Australia and 523 days active service overseas.
He was discharged on 23 October 1945 and returned to the Bundaberg Region where he lived until his death on 22 February 1992.
For his service, Gunner Harold Weber was awarded the 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, and Australian Service Medal.
Service Number: QX10159
Members of the Weber family continue to live in the Bundaberg Region, including his daughter Noelene Ellis who applied to Council to have her father’s service recognised through the Streets of Remembrance program.
Information on Gunner Harold Weber’s life and service is from the National Archives of Australia, Department of Veterans Affairs, and State Library of Queensland.
Find out more about Bundaberg Regional Council’s Streets of Remembrance program and how to nominate a street or service person here.
