KELLY, John
| Service Number: | 36 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | A Squadron, New South Wales Mounted Infantry |
| Born: | Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia, 13 August 1870 |
| Home Town: | Tenterfield, Tenterfield Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia, 24 May 1956, aged 85 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Tenterfield Cemetery, NSW Plot: Old RC 23, 5 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 36, A Squadron, New South Wales Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Nov 1899: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 36, A Squadron, New South Wales Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 28 notes 'A' Squadron Mounted Rifles embarked at Sydney 3 Nov 1899 aboard Aberdeen arriving Cape Town 6 Dec 1899. | |
| 8 Jan 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 36, A Squadron, New South Wales Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 28 notes 'A' Squadron Mounted Rifles embarked to return to Australia at Cape Town 13 Dec 1900 aboard Orient arriving Sydney and unit disbanded 0n 8 Jan 1901. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Note- his younger brother Michael 'Mick' Augustine Kelly also served twice in the South African (Boer) War for two Queensland contingents, Private S.N. 175, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, and Private S.N. 671, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft).
When John 'Jack' Kelly enlisted in 1899 in the 'A' Squadron New South Wales Mounted Rifles he was recorded in the original nominal roll, held by National Archives, where it was noted that he; was born on 13 Aug 1870 at Tenterfield; he was single and a farmer; and his N.O.K. was his father at Tenterfield. It appears he served the full tour of the unit returning to Sydney where he was discharged 8 Jan 1901.
While serving in South Africa, John and his brother Michael, wrote letters home to their sister Julia Ellen 'Nellie' Kelly in Tenterfield describing their experiences in the war. These letters are held in the AWM Collections, see link on this profile.
John Kelly was born on 13 Aug 1870 at Tenterfield, NSW, a son and one of 16 children to Mortimer John Francis Kelly and Mary Anne Kelly (nee Edwards). He married Caroline Louisa Krahe on 7 Jun 1904 at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Tenterfield. They remained in the Tenterfield area where John was a farmer and they had at least 1 child.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 28-33; National Archives Australia- B5204, Roll 13, p. 144, Nominal Roll 'A' Squadron NSW Mounted Rifles- Nominal rolls and lists of medals and clasps for New South Wales Military Forces who served in the Boer War).
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