Bertram Thomas KELL

Bertram Thomas KELL Update Details

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KELL, Bertram Thomas

Service Number:	965
Enlisted:	8 December 1915, Perth, Western Australia
Last Rank:	Lieutenant
Last Unit:	28th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Brisbane, Queensland, 5 March 1895
Home Town:	North Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia
Schooling:	North Fremantle State School
Occupation:	Iron Worker
Died:	Died of wounds (shell), France, 8 August 1918, aged 23 years
Cemetery:	Vignacourt British Cemetery Plot V, Row B, Grave No. 14.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Fremantle Fallen Sailors & Soldiers Memorial, North Fremantle Cenotaph

World War 1 Service

8 Dec 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, SN 965, Perth, Western Australia
6 Jun 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, SN 965, 44th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1
6 Jun 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, SN 965, 44th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Fremantle
18 Feb 1917:	Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 44th Infantry Battalion
18 Apr 1917:	Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Battalion
26 Sep 1917:	Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Battalion
8 Aug 1918:	Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Battalion, The Battle of Amiens

Help us honour Bertram Thomas Kell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

Mother Emily Reay & Step-father William Reay, living at Ocean View, Bay Road,
North Fremantle, Western Australia.

8/2/1922 mother stated to AIF:
"the boy's father left family and WA in 1907, never providing support to family,
courts granted a divorce in 1910. 1912 remarried to William Reay.
Unfortunately in 1920 William was accidentally killed."

Next of kin in service:
Brother:            3867 Alfred Edward Kell
                          15/11/1915 Enlisted as Private in 1st Anzac Cyclist Battalion
                        12/2/1916 Embarked Fremantle, on board HMAT A28 Miltiades
                          11/5/1919 Returned to Australia
                          as a Sapper in Australian Corps Singal Company
                        wife Mrs Dorothy Emily Kell

Brother-in-law: 2885 Pte William Thomas BROWNE
                         1/9/1916 Enlisted in Fremantle as a Private in 48th Battalion
                         9/9/1916 Embarked Fremantle on board HMAT A8 Argyllshire
                          15/2/1919 Died of broncho-pneumonia
                          buried in: Belgrade Cemetery (Plot IV, Row B, Grave No 12)
                          wife Mrs Lillian Emma Browne, living at Ocean View, Bay Road, North Fremantle WA

Previously served: 85th Infantry - Naval Reserve

Described on enlisting as 20 years 8 months old; single; 5' 10" tall; 134 lbs;
fresh complexion; blue eyes; brown hair; Weslyan.

29/11/1915 Took Oath in Perth, Western Australia

8/12/1915 Enlisted in Perth, Western Australia

1/1-6/3/1916 Signal School

3/6/1916 Commanding Officer appointed Bertram to Regiment of Signallers
44th Battalion

6/6/1916         Embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A29 Suevic
                       as a Private in the 44th Infantry Battalion, Head Quarters
21/7/1916       disembarked into Plymouth, England

29/11/1916 proceeded overseas to France, ex Southampton, England

3/1/1917 joined No.5 Officers Cadet Battalion, Trinity College, Cambridge

14/5/1917 Proceeded overseas to France, ex Tidsworth, England

15/5/1917 Transferred to 28th Battalion, Etaples, France

18/5/1917 Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant

24/8/1917 to Divisional Signallers Class, France
9/9/1917 rejoined battalion

14/9/1917       to Corps School, France
26/9/1917       To be Lieutenant 28th Battalion
31/10/1917      rejoined 28th battalion

4/12/1917 attached for Liaison Course AFC
8/12/1917 rejoined 28th Battalion

14/1/1918 proceeded on furlough (leave) to England
29/1/1918 rejoined 28th battalion

10/5/1918       wounded in action - gun shot wound to head
                      admitted to 12th Australian Field Ambulance
                      admitted to train
11/5/1918       admitted to No.8 General Hospital, Rouen, France
21/5/1918       discharged to Depot

8/8/1918 shell wound to head (2nd occassion)
admitted to 20th Casualty Clearing Station

8/8/1918 died of shell wound to head - sustained in action

26/8/1918       buried in: Vignacourt British Cemetery, France
                                      8 miles North-North Wst of Amiens
                                     Plot V, Row B, Grave No. 14.

Medals:
British War medal (40771); Victory medal (40357); Memorial Plaque
and Memorial Scroll (358042).

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 28/2/2015. Lest we forget.

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