Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edwin Kellaway enlisted in the AIF on 12 October 1916 in Croydon, Queensland. He was 20 years and 5 months old upon enlistment and allocated to the 47th Battalion. His next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Beatrice Kellaway who lived at Musgrave Road Indooroopilly, a Brisbane suburb. He had served 4 years in the Senior Cadets and 2 years in the 8th Infantry of the Citizens Forces. These were compulsory service obligations where members served about 10-15 days per year.
At the time of his enlistment the 47th Battalion was in France so he was allocated to the 8th Reinforcements of the 47th Battalion. Just two months later he embarked on the Demosthenes in Sydney on 22 December bound for England. They arrived at Plymouth on 3 March 1917. As they had had little training prior to leaving Australia, he was posted to the 12th Training Battalion at No. 14 Camp at Codford. Ten days later he was administered to hospital sick and discharged on 1 April. He was promoted to Acting Lance Corporal on 19 May. He proceeded overseas on 23 October and was taken on strength of the 47th Battalion on 2 November 1917. At the time the battalion was out of the line in billets at Delette conducting training. The late autumn weather was not good and inhibited tactical training. On 15 November the battalion, along with the other battalions in the brigade, commenced a 100 km move to a new location at Bethencourt. The unit routine orders kept on file for November 1917 note that the men will be able to vote in the referendum for compulsory military service in the first weeks of December.
In December the battalion moved to the Peronne area where training continued. They celebrated Christmas with carols, a voluntary church service and a good Christmas lunch. In January the 47th Battalion boarded a train and moved back to the Ypres Sector, detraining at Bailleul and on the night of 11 January taking over the trenches at Manor Farm just to the south-west of Zillbeke. This was Kellaway’s first experience of war and the trenches. On 19 January they were relieved from the trenches and moved rearward to a camp.
23 March the battalion was at Meteren received orders to prepare to move to halt the enemy who had broken through in Operation Michael. Over the next few days they marched and were trucked south and eventually stopped and went into action against the enemy between the Amiens-Albert Rd and the railway line Dernancourt-Albert. The QM and Transport Officer established a ‘dump’ at Contay.
On 28 March the enemy attacked and broke through the 47th Battalion’s position at the railway line level crossing near Dernancourt. The battalion was under heavy fire from enemy artillery and machine gun fire during the day. 97 wounded men presented at the Regimental Aid Post, including lance Corporal Edwin Kellaway. Kellaway had received a gunshot wound to the elbow and was evacuated to the 6th General Hospital at Rouen for treatment. In May he was attached to a depot unit at Le Harve for duties waiting to return to his unit. While he was there the 47th Battalion was disbanded, along with a number of other battalions in the infantry brigades as there were not enough reinforcements coming from Australia. Kellaway, along with 15 officers and 147 of his comrades was transferred to the 46th Battalion.
He joined the 46th Battalion on 1 June 1918. On 8 July 1918 the 46th Battalion was ordered to conduct a minor attack to straighten the line to conform with neighbouring units. The forward companies were to the east of Sailly-le-Sec, about 300 metres east of the existing communal cemetery on the D233. They were to advance and capture the German trench system approximately 600 metres along the road (D233) and in line with the existing farm road that goes off to the left and extending to the right as far as the Somme River/Canal. The attack commenced at approximately midnight and was secure around 1.00 am. It is estimated that 25 enemy were killed. In the 46th Battalion, 2 officers and 23 Other Ranks were wounded slightly, 3 Other Ranks killed and 2 missing believed killed. Edwin Kellaway was one of 12 men seriously wounded. This time he was not as lucky as his first wounding having received a gunshot wound to the neck and jaw. He was again evacuated to the 6th General Hospital in Rouen and on 20 July was transferred to the King George Hospital in England. Kellaway’s war was over.
On 18 July, his mother received a telegram which read, “Dear Madam, I now beg to advise you that Private E. W. Kellaway has been reported wounded, 2nd occasion.” And details of his address. She received follow-up advice on a date unknown, “Now reported Private Edwin Kellaway admitted King George Military Hospital London, England Twenty-first July Gunshot wound face seriously ill progress not reported.” On 13 August she received a further telegram “Private Kellaway progressing favourably.” And then on 31st October, “Dear Madam, I now beg to advise you that Private E. W. Kellaway has been reported convalescent.”
On Christmas Day 1918 Edwin Kellaway embarked for Australia arriving in early February 1919.