KELLY, James Bernard
| Service Numbers: | V55706, VX138903 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 August 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 63rd Infantry Battalion (BCOF) |
| Born: | Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 21 April 1918 |
| Home Town: | Newport, Hobsons Bay, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tinsmith |
| Died: | Natural Causes , Newport, Victoria, Australia, 10 January 2006, aged 87 years |
| Cemetery: |
Williamstown (General) Cemetery, Victoria, Australia RC Section Family Plot |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 16 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V55706 | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1940: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, 6th Infantry Battalion, Posted to Headquarter Company 6th Infantry Battalion ( Royal Melbourne Regiment) at Mount Martha Victoria till 6th December 1940 being 70 day annual camp as PTD. | |
| 15 Dec 1941: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V55706, 6th Infantry Battalion, Discharged from the Militia on Enlistment in the AIF for overseas service. | |
| 18 Aug 1942: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V55706, 6th Infantry Battalion, Called up for Full Time Duty and Embarkation for 5 MD WA for service | |
| 18 May 1943: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX138903 | |
| 7 Sep 1943: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX138903, 6th Infantry Battalion, Australia's Northern Periphery, Service in the Northern Territory till 28th August 1944 | |
| 2 May 1945: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX138903, 63rd Infantry Battalion (BCOF), Ambon, Deployed with Battalion to Dutch New Guinea Morataii and then to reoccupy Ambon till 23rd December 1945 as part of BCOF. | |
| 23 Jan 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX138903 | |
| Date unknown: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V55706 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Pam Hamilton
Private J B Kelly's service with: 63rd Infantry Battalion // Brief History
The 63rd Australian Infantry Battalion was formed on Morotai during August 1945 with the initial title of the 2nd Australian Reinforcement Infantry Battalion. It was established with volunteers as part of the 33rd Australian Infantry Brigade Group which had been given the role of occupying parts of the Netherlands East Indies until such time as the Dutch could regain control. The 63rd Battalion was used to occupy Ambon in early October before returning to Morotai in early 1946 where it was disbanded?
On Ambon its duties included providing personnel to support war crimes trials and details to assist war graves units. There were also about 800 Australian former prisoners of war at Ambon who needed repatriation. They also undertook ceremonial duties as war cemeteries were established.