KELLY, John William
| Service Number: | 3048 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 47th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Charleville, Queensland, Australia, 12 December 1892 |
| Home Town: | Brandon, Burdekin, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Drapers assistant |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 7 June 1917, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kandahar Farm Cemetery, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium Plot II, Row A, Grave No. 35. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ayr Great War Honour Roll, Brandon War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3048, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 3048, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 3048, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Warilda, Brisbane | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Involvement Private, 3048, 47th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3048 awm_unit: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-06-07 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
John William Kelly was the son of John Joseph and Ellen Kelly, of Brandon, Queensland. He was known as ‘Jack’ Kelly to his family and friends. The parents ran the main hotel in Brandon, the Club Hotel, and Leslie gave his occupation as barman when he enlisted.
His younger brother, 5615 Pte. Leslie Edward Kelly 26th Battalion AIF was killed in action at Bullecourt on 3 May 1917, aged 22.
Jack Kelly was badly wounded on the opening day of the attack on Messines, Belgium on 7 June 1917. He was admitted to the 2nd N.Z. Field Ambulance with gunshot wounds to the neck and thigh and he died the same day.
An officer stated in his Red Cross wounded and missing file, “I saw Kelly lying dead in front of Messines village, at La Douve Farm. I was close by when he was hit; he was past help having been very badly hit. He was one of my men. I knew him well. I think he must have been buried in an improvised cemetery near the old British front line, at Stirling Farm, west of Messines, a good many of our men were buried there.”
In June 1918 the Viles family, who had lost two sons at Messines, placed a memorial notice in the Townsville Daily Bulletin.
VILES-KELLY. — In proud Remembrance of our two beloved sons, Corporal Francis Watts Viles, and Keith McLean Viles; also, their dear mate, Jack W. Kelly, of Brandon, all of the 47th Battalion. Killed in Action at Messines on June 7th, 1917. In life they were mates and brothers, and in death were not divided. (Inserted by D. P. Viles and Family.)