5565
KELLY, Denis Ignatius
| Service Numbers: | 709, S72068 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 February 1916, Burra, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Manoora, South Australia , 1885 |
| Home Town: | Booborowie, Goyder, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Laura, South Australia, 14 June 1950, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Laura Cemetery, South Plot 694 |
| Memorials: | Burra District WW1 Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Burra, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 709, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 709, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 709, 43rd Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 22 Apr 1942: | Involvement Corporal, S72068 | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Laura, SA | |
| 22 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, S72068 | |
| 17 Nov 1943: | Discharged |
Help us honour Denis Ignatius Kelly's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by tony griffin
Born at Manoora, Denis was a 30 year old labourer when he enlisted at Burra on 15 February 1916. He was initially appointed to C Company 2nd Depot Battalion and then on 7 March was posted to D Company 43rd Infantry Battalion at Morphettville Camp. The battalion embarked from Outer Harbour aboard HMAT A19 Afric on 9 June and disembarked at Marseilles in France on 20 July 1916. The battalion entrained across France and was shipped across the English Channel. In England the battalion arrived at Lark Hill and camped in Camp No.12. The day before the battalion proceeded overseas to France on 24 November, Denis was appointed a Lance Corporal in B Company Bombing Platoon. For the next six months the 43rd Battalion was positioned in the trenches at Armentieres. In June the battalion took part in the battle of Messines and in October the Third Battle of Ypres. Throughout 1917 Denis was promoted several times, firstly to Corporal, then Temporary Sergeant and finally in September to Sergeant. The day after Christmas Denis went on ten days leave to Paris and would have enjoyed a very special New Years Eve.
On 28 February 1918 Denis left the battalion and proceeded overseas to England to march into the 10th Training Battalion at Sutton Mandeville where nine days later he was taken on command at Bombing School Lyndhurst. For the next sixteen days Denis attended the Course of Instruction and qualified as an Instructor in Bombing 1st Class. With his new qualification Denis was attached for duty with the permanent Cadre (training staff) of 9th Training Battalion at Fovant. Five months later Denis was detached to the 43rd Battalion and on 1 September 1918 proceeded back to France where, seven days later, he rejoined his unit which was in pursuit of the enemy west of Perrone. On 4 October, as the battalion was preparing to move back to a rest area, Denis was detached to the Australian Corps Training School.
On 2 April 1919 Denis rejoined the 43rd Battalion as it was preparing for demobilisation. Denis embarked on 21 June aboard SS Konigin Luise for his return to Australia. He disembarked in Adelaide on 11 August and was welcomed home at a gathering held in the Willalo Hall on 15 August. He was discharged on 25 September 1919.
Denis returned to Willalo (near Booborowie) and married Grace Johanna Sullivan in 1921. Denis and Grace left Booborowie in 1934 to live at Laura. Denis died in 1950, at the age of 64 years, and is buried in the Laura Cemetery
Biography
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