April 5th, 2025New Avenue of Honour tree for Private Thomas Chaplain

A new tree planted in the historic Daylesford Avenue of Honour remembers the life of Daylesford’s Private Thomas Alfred Chaplain who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War I.

“We gather to honour and remember Private Thomas Alfred Chaplain, a son of Daylesford, who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Great War,” said Hepburn Shire Council mayor, Cr Don Henderson, attending the tree planting ceremony last Sunday (March 31).

Born in 1882, Thomas attended Daylesford State School and later worked as a miner. In May 1915, at the age of 33, he enlisted in Brisbane, joining the 26th Infantry Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force.

Thomas’ journey led him to the battlefields of Gallipoli, where he faced harrowing conditions of war. Tragically, he succumbed to dysentery on November 8, 1915, aboard the hospital ship HS Galeka. He was laid to rest at sea and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial in Turkey.

“May this tree grow strong and tall, a lasting symbol of their resilience and sacrifice,” Cr Henderson said.

“And may we, as a community, always honour their memory by living lives worthy of the price they paid.”

This story based on a Hepburn shire Council media statement. Image: supplied