KELLIHER, Richard
| Service Numbers: | QX20656, QX500601 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 February 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/25th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ballybranagh, near Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, 1 September 1910 |
| Home Town: | New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Technical college, Tralee, Ireland |
| Occupation: | Farm Labourer |
| Died: | Cerebral Thrombosis , Heidelberg Repatriation General Hospital, Victoria, Australia, 28 January 1963, aged 52 years |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne |
| Memorials: | Campbell Private Richard Kelliher V.C. Memorial Park, Keith Payne VC Memorial Park, Kokoda Track Memorial Rose Garden, North Bondi War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 21 Feb 1941: | Involvement QX20656, also QX500601 | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Feb 1941: | Enlisted | |
| 21 Feb 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, QX500601, 2nd/25th Infantry Battalion | |
| 27 Mar 1946: | Involvement QX500601, prev QX20656 | |
| 13 Sep 1946: | Discharged | |
| 13 Sep 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, QX500601, 2nd/25th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Kearney
Kelliher, Richard (1910–1963)
by Richard E. Reid
Richard Kelliher, soldier and gardener, was born on 1 September 1910 at Ballybranagh, near Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, son of Michael Kelliher, labourer, and his wife Mary Anne, née Talbot. Dick attended technical college at Tralee and worked as a mechanic in his brother's garage. In 1929 he emigrated to Brisbane with his 15-year-old sister Norah. She later said that, although he was good natured and 'not a very big fellow', he 'wouldn't take it if anyone were nasty'. During the Depression he worked at a variety of jobs: he was sacristan at St Stephen's Cathedral before moving to the country where he was employed as a farmhand. Sickness dogged him, and he contracted typhoid and meningitis.
Enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 21 February 1941, Kelliher sailed for the Middle East and was assigned to the 2nd/25th Battalion in October. He performed garrison duties in Syria and returned to Australia in March 1942. Six months later he was with his unit in Papua, helping to drive the Japanese from Ioribaiwa to Gona. Back home from January 1943, he was admitted to hospital with malaria in June. He was again sent to Papua in August. Next month he was based at Nadzab, New Guinea, whence the 2nd/25th advanced towards Lae.
On 13 September, near Heath's plantation, Kelliher's platoon came under heavy fire from a concealed Japanese machine-gun post. Five men were killed and three wounded, among them the section leader Corporal Billy Richards. On his own initiative, Kelliher dashed towards the post, hurled two grenades at the enemy and killed some of them, but was forced back to his own lines. Seizing a Bren-gun, he ran to within 30 yards (27 m) of the machine-gun nest and silenced it with accurate shooting. He then crawled out under enemy rifle-fire and dragged Richards to safety, probably saving his life. Kelliher was awarded the Victoria Cross.
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https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kelliher-richard-10672 (adb.anu.edu.au)
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