The AIF Project

William KELLY

Regimental number1577
Place of birthArgyle Scotland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationCarpenter
AddressMr P S Kelly, Coolamon, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Next of kinFather, P S Kelly, Coolamon, New South Wales
Enlistment date16 December 1914
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name4th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/21/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A49 Seang Choon on 11 February 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll4th Battalion
FateDied of wounds 11 August 1915
Date of death11 August 1915
Place of burialAt Sea
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 22), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
40
Medals

Distinguished Conduct Medal

'For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on 7th August, 1915, at Lone Pine (Dardanelles). While the wounded were being removed from a trench the enemy commenced a severe attack by bomb throwers. Private Kelly, with great pluck, met it by collecting and throwing back the enemy's unexploded bombs, until one burst in his hand, inflicting severe injuries. His gallantry and self sacrifice undoubtedly saved the lives of many of the wounded.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 28
Date: 24 February 1916

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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