KELLY, James Riby
| Service Numbers: | 3809, V15312 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 February 1916, 3 yrs Port Fairy Naval Reserve |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 29th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Penshurst, Victoria, Australia, 21 September 1892 |
| Home Town: | Glenthompson, Southern Grampians, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Draper |
| Died: | Bronchitis and Pneumonia, 115th Australian General Hospital (Heidelberg), Melbourne, Australia, 11 November 1944, aged 52 years |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale War Cemetery, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Port Fairy School Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3809, 29th Infantry Battalion, 3 yrs Port Fairy Naval Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 3809, 29th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Commonwealth, Melbourne | |
| 19 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 3809, 29th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' | |
| 29 Jul 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3809, 29th Infantry Battalion, SW right Shoulder | |
| 29 Sep 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3809, 29th Infantry Battalion, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, SW to back | |
| 10 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3809, 29th Infantry Battalion, 3rd MD | |
| 30 May 1941: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, V15312, 107 Convalescent Depot | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 3809, 29th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour James Riby Kelly's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
Birth Details from Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922
Name: James Riby Kelly
Birth Date: Abt 1893
Birth Place: Penshurst, Victoria
Registration Year: 1893
Registration Place: Victoria, Australia
Father: Patrick Kelly
Mother: Mary Ann Riby
Registration Number: 6544
From How We Served
The final resting place for; - 3809 & V15312 Private James Riby (aka Riley) Kelly of Glenthompson and Port Fairy, Victoria had been employed as a draper when he enlisted for War Service on the 19th of February 1916.
James was allocated to reinforcements for the 29th Battalion 1st AIF and embarked from Australia for England, and further training on the 19th of September.
By the 18th of December, James had arrived in France and was marched out to the ‘Bull Ring’ at Etaples, for his final phase of training before being sent to the trenches. Whilst at Etaples, James contracted the measles and was confined to hospital on the 4th of January 1917, and was afterwards admitted into convalescence care.
James, recovered, was sent back to his Battalion in France, which he officially re-joined on the 13th of March. On the 9th of June James was evacuated from his Unit as sick and was hospitalized due to the effects of ‘Trench Fever’. Arriving back in England, James was admitted into 1st Australian General Hospital, at Harefeild on the 20th of June.
Following further convalescent and time spent at Training Battalions, James was not deemed fit enough to be sent to France until he was finally embarked for his return on the 23rd of April 1918.
Back with his Unit on the 26th. James's time spent in the trenches would be continuous until he was wounded in action by shrapnel to his right shoulder on the 29th of July, for which he was hospitalized.
Following his recovery James was sent back to join his Battalion on the 9th of September. James would be wounded for a second time, within a month of his return, due to suffering wounds to his back which he received on the 29th of September.
With his recovery James’s eventual repatriation back to Australia, began with his return to England and embarking from there for home on the 12th of June 1919.
Back in Australia, James received his official discharge from the 1st AIF for his re-entry into civilian life on the 10th of September.
Following the outbreak of World War Two, James again presented himself for service with the Australian Military Forces on the 30th of May 1941. Having been accepted for Home Service James was to firstly serve with Garrison Battalion’s, including time as a guard at the Tatura Prisoner Of War Camp. On the 29th of July 1942 James had transferred and was taken on strength with the 107th Convalescent Depot.
Whilst posted with this Unit, James was evacuated as seriously sick to the 115th Australian General Hospital (Heidelberg). Admitted as suffering from bronchitis and pneumonia on the 19th of August 1944. James was still a patient of this hospital when his death occurred due to cardiac failure on the 11th of November 1944 (Remembrance Day).
Following his premature death at the age of 52, and whilst again on active service, after already being a “Great War’ veteran, Private James Kelly was formally interred within Springvale War Cemetery, Victoria.
Click images to start slideshow.