KELLS, Edward James
| Service Number: | 324 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Victoria, Australia, 1870 |
| Home Town: | Morwell, Latrobe, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Shearer |
| Died: | Morwell, Victoria, Australia, 7 May 1931, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Hazelwood Cemetery, Victoria Plot: R/C OLD*T*44 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 324, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 324, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 6 Mar 1901 aboard Templemore arriving Port Elizabeth 1 Apr 1901. | |
| 16 Jun 1901: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 500, Promoted to Corporal by C.-in-C. for distinguished gallantry in the field A.O. 38/01. | |
| 20 Aug 1901: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, London Gazette, 20 Aug 1901, p. 5497, notes that during a battle on 16 Jun 1901, "...crossed the open ground three times under fire to carry messages". As a result of his gallantry, he was promoted to Corporal in the field by the Commander in Chief. | |
| 26 Mar 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 324, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Discharged in South Africa on 26 Mar 1902, prior to 5th QIB embarking to return to Australia. Newspaper reports indicate he remained in South Africa to take up employment. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
When Edward James Kells enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his sister Mrs. Jackson, Leongatha, Victoria. In the original Nominal Roll for the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, held by National Archives, it is noted his N.O.K. was his sister Mrs. H. Jackson, Leongatha, Victoria. His older sister Mary had married Henry Jackson in 1883 and they were living and farming at Leongatha in 1901.
Edward James Kells was born in 1870 in Victoria, a son to Thomas Kells and Mary Kells (nee Haughey). Its unclear why he was in Queensland in 1901 but given his ocupation was a shearer it is likely he was there for work. After making his way back from South Africa he returned to Victoria and continued working as a shearer. He married Jane Marcella Quinlivan, its assumed in Victoria.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 500; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 5).