Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Adelaide born on the 5th January 1918, Brian was the youngest son of Ethel Marion and William Alfred Kelly of Tranmere, an eastern suburb of Adelaide. The strong Catholic family included six sons and two daughters.
Brian worked as a salesman until the outbreak of WWII when, aged 22, he was one of the early enlistees on the 18th June 1940. He was allocated the number SX5706 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Initially, Brian he gave his father, William as his next of kin.
Brian had pre-embarkation leave with his family, little knowing that he would never see either of his parents again. He embarked on the Stratheden on the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. His early days were marred by ill health; a high temperature with a fortnight’s stay in hospital before he was able to return to the 2/48th Battalion. He was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk – a derogatory term designed to destroy morale and encourage the soldiers to surrender. It had the opposite effect, becoming a highly prized unofficial title.
While overseas fighting, back home Brian’s 66-year-old mother, Ethel died on October 25th ’41 in Calvary Hospital. She was buried in the Catholic section at the Cheltenham Cemetery. Further distressing news followed in December with Brian’s father, William dying at Christmas time. In November ’41, Brian was detached for special duties with the 2/8th Field Ambulance.
With the death of his parents, Brian changed his next of kin to his Melbourne based brother, William Raymond Kelly a member of the Judiciary with the Arbitration Courts in Melbourne.
By the commencement of February ’43, Brian was finally heading home, via Sydney. He rose through the ranks in May ’43, becoming Acting Corporal. Training in Queensland followed in preparation for the humidity and tropical conditions of New Guinea. Within a month of landing at Milne Bay, Brian had risen to the rank of Corporal. Unfortunately, early the following year Brian contracted an extremely high temperature, then dengue fever, prompting his return to Brisbane in February ’44.
Back home in Adelaide Hospital recovering from Malaria in April, Corporal Brian announced his engagement to Mary Pauline Taylor of Hawthorn. Mary was actively involved as secretary of the Comforts Funds Unit through the Convent of Mercy Old Scholars and volunteered with the Soldiers’ Guild. Whilst home, in May Brian also acted as best man for a fellow soldier, Private Philip Patrick VX116639 from the Supply Depot.
Brian continued to experience ‘niggling’ health issues including an extremely high temperature (Pyrexia of unknown origin PUO) and inflammation of his sinuses (subacute rhinitis, an upper respiratory tract infection) with subsequent stays in hospitals before he returned to active service in Queensland. He was then considered fit enough to leave Townsville for Morotai and then Borneo in April ’45. Unfortunately, in September a sprained ankle was the impetus for his return to Australia and his eventual discharge on the 22nd November ’45.
Brian and Mary had three children, Mark, Jane and Philippa.
Aged 81, Brian died on the 2nd of November ’99. He is buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery, East Area, Rose bed E62, Position 28. Mary died on the 19th June 2002 and now rests with Brian.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.