Mervyn William KELTY

Mervyn William KELTY Update Details

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KELTY, Mervyn William

Service Number:	1008
Enlisted:	9 May 1916, An original member of A Company
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	40th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Longford, Tasmania, Australia, 1893
Home Town:	Longford, Northern Midlands, Tasmania
Schooling:	Longford State School, Tasmania, Australia
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Killed in action, France, 28 March 1918
Cemetery:	Heilly Station Cemetery Plot VII, Row A, Grave No. 51.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Longford Christ Church Roll of Honour, Longford War Memorial

World War 1 Service

9 May 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1008, 40th Infantry Battalion, An original member of A Company
1 Jul 1916:	Involvement Private, 1008, 40th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: ''
1 Jul 1916:	Embarked Private, 1008, 40th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Hobart

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Mervyn Kelty was one of three sons of James and Harriet Kelty of Longford, Tasmania, who all enlisted and fought with the 40th Tasmanian Battalion. His brother 217 Pte. George Ellis Kelty was killed in action at Messines 7 June 1917, and 218 Pte William Kelty MM, lost his leg the same day as Mervyn was killed. Their father was a respected pioneer farmer who had a large holding near Longford and the sons worked the farm.

The 40th Battalion was making an advance of some 1000 yards on the 28 March 1918, and Mervyn was reported to have been badly injured by shellfire and died shortly after being hit.

The following article was printed in the Launceston Examiner during June 1918, “Mr. and Mrs. James Kelty of Longford have received a letter from Lieutenant Edward D. Weston in which he states (relating to the late Private Mervyn Kelty):- ‘Mervyn has paid the penalty, but has died a grand death, doing his duty faithfully. Bill (who was dangerously wounded) will soon be home to you, I hope. He was wounded in the knee by a piece of shrapnel. I have had both lads in my platoon, and for a better soldier and cleaner man than Mervyn I could not wish.’”

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