KEALY, Clement Roy
| Service Numbers: | 13163, (V16292, VX147690) |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 June 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Warrant Officer Class 2 |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) |
| Born: | Warragul, Victoria, Australia, 13 December 1923 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Died: | Bolton Point , near Morisset, New South Wales, Australia, 21 July 2019, aged 95 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 18 Jun 1941: | Involvement Corporal, (V16292, VX147690) | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, 13163 | |
| 11 Apr 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, 13163 |
Korean War Service
| 28 Sep 1950: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 13163 | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Sep 1950: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 13163, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) |
Vietnam War Service
| 29 Jul 1964: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, 13163 | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Jul 1964: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, 13163, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) | |
| 21 Jan 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, 13163 | |
| 29 Jan 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) | |
| 30 Jan 1970: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, 13163 | |
| 30 Jan 1970: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) |
Help us honour Clement Roy Kealy's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by VWM Australia
Former RSM of SASR and Parachute Training School - Retired as a WO1
Vale Clem
13163 (V16292, VX147690) WO1 Clement Roy Kealy
13th December 1923 - 21st July 2019
A member of WW2 Z Special Unit served in Korea, Vietnam
and the post-WW2 SASR, PTS and 2 Commando Company
Clem Kealy was wounded on the Kokoda Track while serving with the 2/39 Battalion in PNG during WW2. On recovering he joined Z Special Unit and operated on Timor.
After WW2 Clem rejoined the army in 1950 at the still young age of 26 and saw service in Korea with 3RAR at the epic Battle of Kapyong. ARA staff who many 1 and 2 Cdo Coy men encountered in the late 1950s at the Williamtown Parachute Training Wing included Major John Church who was a platoon commander at Kapyong, and both of his WO PJIs - "Buck" Buchanan and Clem Kealy - later to join 2 Cdo - who were also on Hill 355 with 3RAR. As a PJI Clem trained Mike Wells in 1957, Mike recalls, and many years later became the PTS RSM, in 1975, succeeding another former 2 Cdo Coy member, Jim Husband.
In Vietnam Clem was an instructor at the Duc My training camp for Rangers. After his posting to 2 Commando Company at Ripponlea, Melbourne as an ARA WO1 instructor, from late 1962 to 1964 he was assigned to 5th SFGA Nung Company at Danang from 1964-65. His second tour was as an instructor at the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol School at Van Kiep. A member of the AATTV, he was also mentioned in despatches.
In a speech by Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery at ‘The Team’ dinner in 2002, Jeffrey said, “ . . in my first posting to the SAS as a subaltern in 1959 these were the sergeants, later to serve in the Team, who trained me: Roy Weir, gentleman Jim McFadzean, D J Neville (Trees and Crocodile story), Ray Simpson (Cobber), Clem Kealy, Joe Flannery and George Chinn, to name but a few.” Clem became the RSM of the SASR. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 1975.
References: Max Alcibaides, from forums.armchairgeneral.com; PTS (Australia)Facebook page; Australian War Memorial documents; ACA Victoria Commando magazine.
Barry Higgins
Click images to start slideshow.