Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Frederick Kelly

John Frederick Kelly was born in Beechworth in 1895. He was the second youngest child of seven children of James Kelly (1849 – 1918) and Annie McRory (1854 - 1921. At the age of 21 years, John, who was a carpenter, enlisted in the 1st A.I.F. on the 24th May 1916. His initial military training was undertaken at Broadmeadows, Victoria and he was then assigned to the 22nd Infantry Battalion as a Private, Service Number 5127. On the 3rd July 1916, John embarked with his Battalion aboard (A33) HMAT “Ayrshire” with the 13th Reinforcements, disembarking at Plymouth, England on the 2nd September 1916.

On the 12th November 1916, Private Kelly embarked from Folkstone, England for the conflict in France and was assigned to and taken on strength with the 21st Battalion on the 23rd November 1916. During action on the Somme on the 31st December 1916, Private Kelly received gunshot wounds to his left leg. He was evacuated back to England for hospitalisation and recuperation. He was discharged from hospital on the 23rd March 1917 to re-join his unit in France.

During 1917, the 21st Battalion took part in two major battles on the Western Front as the Germans withdrew towards the prepared defences of their Hindenburg Line. In May, the 21st Battalion fought in the Second Battle of Bullecourt. The Battalion then moved to Belgium, where, on the 2nd September 1917, during the fighting around Broodseinde, Private Kelly was wounded in action for a second time, receiving gunshot wounds to both knees and hands. He was evacuated back to England for treatment to his severe wounds and was hospitalised for the remainder of the War. Private Kelly was invalided back to Australia, embarking at London, England on the 31st March 1919 aboard the Hospital Transport “Wandilla”. He disembarked at Melbourne on the 18th May 1919. John Kelly continued to receive hospitalised treatment post war and was finally discharged from active service on the 30th May 1921 as medically unfit, two and a half years after the cessation of hostilities.

Following his army discharge, Private Kelly returned to Beechworth, married Margaret Lucy Barkes (1894 – 1974) and they had three sons and a daughter. John Frederick Kelly’s war injuries resulted in him having limited movement and mobility in the use of his legs. After the war, he was employed at Mayday Hills Mental Hospital in Beechworth and worked in the main Entrance/Administration area as a Hall Porter. It was customary, in some instances after WW1 to provide jobs within Government Departments for incapacitated veterans to give them employment prospects, therefore him being part of the Mayday Hills workforce. Often, positions were created for these particular ex-military personnel. Due to his war injuries to his legs, he was fondly named “Kicker Kelly” as his stiff legs allowed no flexibility from his knee joints.

For his military service to his country, Private Kelly was awarded the following medals:

• 1914 – 1915 – Star
• British War Medal
• WW1 Victory Medal

John Frederick Kelly died on the 19th July 1954, aged 59 years. He is buried in Roman Catholic Section C – Plot 394 with his wife Margaret and beside the grave of his eldest son Eugene Joseph Kelly. Until recently, the grave was unmarked. However, with the assistance from the Kelly family and the support of the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Beechworth Cemetery Trust have been successful in having a full military grave approved and constructed for WW1 Veteran John Frederick Kelly.