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Michael Augustine Kelly was born on 11 Dec 1876 at Tenterfield, New South Wales, a son to Mortimer and Mary Kelly.

He served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 173 in the 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Second service was as a Private S.N. 671 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

Note- his older brother John 'Jack' Kelly also served in the South African (Boer) War for a NSW Contingent, Private S.N. 36, A Squadron, New South Wales Mounted Infantry.

Michael Augustine Kelly served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 173, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Second service was as a Private S.N. 671, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft). 

When he joined the 4th QIB in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 19 May 1900, he noted his N.O.K. as his father Mortimer Kelly, produce merchant, Tenterfield. He was invalided from service with the 3rd QIB and discharged in Brisbane on 14 Mar 1901.

Not long after he was selected in the First Draft of the 6th QIB and embarked again for South Africa in Aug 1901. The members of the draft mainly consisted of men who had served in previous contingents in South Africa and were assembled as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.

Men in the draft were not recorded in the original nominal roll for the 6th QIB but he is recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 107. When the 5th QIB returned to Australia a number of the men remained in South Africa for various reasons. 

The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 671, Private M. A. Kelly, remained in South Africa for further service. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 107, notes he returned to Brisbane aboard the Aberdeen and was discharged 5 Sep 1902.

Michael Augustine Kelly was born on 11 Dec 1876 at Tenterfield, NSW, a son to Mortimer John Francis Kelly and Mary Kelly (nee Edwards). His father emigrated from Ireland in 1854, married in Australia, and settled in Tenterfield where he raised a large family of 14 children.

Michael married Johanna Larracy, who was also born in Tenterfield, on 20 Jan 1910 in Queensland. They had 2 children in Queensland and some time after 1912 moved back to NSW where a further 2 children were born in Tenterfield and Murwillumbah. They were long time residents at Lismore where they were still living in 1940 when his wife, Johanna, passed.

It is unclear whether Michael returned to Queensland to live after his wife's passing, or whether he was visiting when he passed in 1955. The BDM Qld death register incorrectly records him as Michael Augustus Kelly. Following his passing he was buried in East Lismore General Cemetery, NSW.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 483 & 519; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 1st service; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 4th QIB, Bk 3 p. 27, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 107; AWM Collections- Letters From John Kelly and Michael Kelly to Their Family, 1899-1900).