The names listed here have been collated from Honour Boards at the Shire of Chapman Valley, East Progress Association, Nabawa Anglican Church and the National Archives of Australia.  One hundred and fifty four was a significant number of men from the Upper Chapman district to enlist in World War I and forty two of those brave men did not return, having lost their lives in the terrible conflict. The area from which they came to serve their nation in war has changed in many ways over the last one hundred years.

After the closure of the Narra Tarra mine in 1879, instead of moving on, many of the miners selected land in the near vicinity and settled permanently with their families. Many employees from the pastoral properties also took up leases of their own.

In 1896, when the Agricultural Purchase Land Act was passed, it resulted in pastoral land throughout the State being divided into smaller freehold farms and purchased for agricultural purposes. The Act was necessary due to the significant increase in the State’s population brought about by the Gold Rush. In the Victoria District the overstocking of some pastoral leases and the subsequent loss of some natural grasses was also a contributing factor to the transition of the area from a pastoral district to an agricultural area. 

The Upper Chapman Road Board was formed in 1901 and changed its name to the Chapman Valley Road Board on 28 May 1958 and became a Shire on the 1 July 1961. The offices were transferred from Nanson to Nabawa in 1963. 

The district included the areas of the Bowes, Buller, Carney, Dindiloa, Durawah, East Chapman, Howatharra, Nanson, Nabawa, Naraling, Narra Tarra, Nolba, Mount Erin, Oakabella, Protheroe, Rockwell, Whelarra, White Peak, Wokarina, Wokatherra, Yanget, Yetna and Yuna. 

Between 1910 and 1919, the government purchased Narra Tarra station, Mount Erin, Bowes Station and Oakabella, dividing them into freehold farming properties and they were all taken up almost immediately. There was no lack of applicants for land which became available in the  district. A number of men, who were descendants of pioneer settlers on the Greenough Flats, had married and were unable to obtain land at Greenough, therefore looked further afield. There were also applications from former workers on the goldfields who wanted to secure land on which they could settle permanently with their families. 

The Narra Tarra Mine came back into production with the outbreak of World War I as the price of lead began to rise significantly. It was at this stage that the mine began to be referred to as ‘Protheroe’. To cater for the mines workforce a township was established at the mine-site. 

From 1914-1918, the call for volunteers was readily responded to by men from all parts of the district. These men served in Gallipoli, France, Belgium, Egypt and elsewhere. A volunteer detachment of the 10^th Light Horse operated in the district and regular parades and exercises took place, giving the volunteers valuable training. 

Here we honour their commitment and sacrifice.

Names with a poppy symbol, indicate those from the district who died or were killed in WWI.