George Alfred Kelly

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 11/01/2017 - 11:45

First Name:

George

Middle Name:

Alfred

Last Name:

Kelly

Mother's Name:

Mary Ann Kelly nee Massey

Father's Name:

Thomas Kelly

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, April 28, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Sergeant

Unit:

4th Battalion, 45th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Details:

George Kelly (Service No 2181) was born in Wollongong, N.S.W. around 1893.

George was single, 21 years old, worked as a labourer and lived in Wollongong when he enlisted. He had served 2 years in the Garrison Artillery.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A63 Karoola with 6th Reinforcements, 4th Battalion. After arriving in Egypt George was sent to Gallipoli and arrived there on 4th August 1915.

Sometime between 6th and 9th August 1915, while fighting at Lone Pine he was wounded and sent for treatment to a casualty clearing station on Gallipoli. George returned to the front lines at Gallipoli on 14th September.

After the evacuation on 31st March 1916 he was transferred to 45th Battalion and served with them until the end of the war.

George arrived in France on 8th June 1916.

On 4th January 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal, then on 14th June to Corporal, and finally on 21st August to Sergeant.

The 45th Battalion saw heavy fighting and the battalion was almost wiped out due to the heavy casualties.

On 21st October 1918 George was transferred to 9th Battalion.

On 2nd November 1918 he was admitted to hospital suffering from influenza.

He was returned to Australia in January 1919 and discharged on 20th April 1919.

George died in 1954.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, KELLY G A