| Regimental number | 1690 |
| Place of birth | East Maitland, New South Wales |
| Other Names | Joseph Edward |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Fireman |
| Address | No. 6 Terrace, Sheriff Street, Forbes, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 33 |
| Height | 5' 6" |
| Weight | 132 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Mr Edward Kelly, Lawson Street, Hamilton, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Parkes, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 53rd Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/70/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Lance Corporal |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 56th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 34 |
| Place of burial | Anzac Cemetery (Plot I, Row H, Grave No. 6), Sailly-Sur-Lys, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 162 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Edward and Mary Ann KELLY, Railway Reserve, Lawson Street, Hamilton, New South Wales. Native of East Maitland, New South Wales |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Sydney, 14 April 1916; disembarked Suez, 15 May 1916. Allotted to and proceeded to 53rd Bn from 14th Training Bn, Ismailia, 24 May 1916. Transferred to 56th Bn, Ferry Post, 28 May 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Promoted Lance Corporal, 16 July 1916. Killed in action, 20 July 1916. Buried Sailly-sur-la-Lys Cemetery by Reverend W.M. Holliday, 20 July 1916. Statement, Red Cross File No 1490206, 2954 Corporal F.G. CAMPION, A Company, 56th Bn (patient, No 26 General Hospital, Etaples), 25 October 1916: 'He was killed at Vermelles (sic) on July 19th. We were in the trenches at the time. He was two bays away from me. A shell came over and blew the trench in. He was blown to pieces. I heard about it immediately it happened.' Second statement, 1695 Pte L.J. LANE, 56th Bn (patient, St John's Hospital, Etaples), 6 November 1916: 'During an action at Fromelles, a few of us were standing in a bay when a shell came over and killed him outright. I was a witness of his death. He was buried, I understood, next day.' Third statement, 1704 Pte G.W. MURRAY, A Company, 56th Bn (patient, No 9 General Hospital, Rouen), 16 November 1916: 'On the 19th or 20th July our Coy. was in action at Fromelles and during the action I saw L/Cpl. Kelly killed outright by a high explosive shell. His hand was blown off. He was buried at a place called Sailly.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, KELLY Joseph
Red Cross file 1490206 |
Postal Address:
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Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
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