Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leading Aircraftman Albert Vincent Kelly (Service No:81719) first served in the ACMF (Private; Service No:W40554) with 13th Training Battalion (12 December 1941 - 11 May 1942). He Discharged to enlist in the RAAF on 15 August 1942 - as an Aircraftman I attached to No 5 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) in NSW. ACI Kelly was described in his Attestation Papers as a 'Good steady type. Keen and Intelligent' (National Archives Australia). Mustered as a  Flight Mechanic (remustered as a Fitter) ACI Kelly served with 55 Operational Base Unit (1943) and was attached to No 25 Squadron on 4 January 1946 when he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman. LAC Kelly was attached to No 25 Squadron at Discharge on 2 April 1946.

Born in 1923 in Jardee WA, Bert was eighth of twelve children of Oswin (Oss) John Kelly (b1893 in Warragul, Victoria) and Amy (Nita) Jaunita Lawrence (b1892 in Bunbury, WA). By 1898 Oss was livining in Donnybrook, WA with his parents and siblings, and was a Labourer in Greenbushes, WA in 1910 when he and Nita married. Oss and Nita lived in Greenbushes, Manjimup, Jardee, Blackwood and Pemberton where they raised their family and Oss worked as a Teamster and later Fitter's Assistant with State Mills. In 1934 Oss was killed in an accident in the Pemberton bush, and Nita died in 1957.

Bert stated in his Attestation Papers that he worked as a Butcher, and had experience as a Barber before his enlistment for WWII. He was working as a Mill Hand in Pemberton, WA in 1948 when he married Olive Jean Carn (b1926 in Pemberton, WA). Bert and Olive settled in Pemberton where Bert worked as a Mill Hand and, from the early 1970's as Assistant Manager. Olive died in 2009 and Bert in 2009.