John Joseph KELLY

Regimental number6148
Place of birthSt Andrews, Co Dublin, Ireland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationShip's cook
AddressBowen, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation37
Height5' 2.75"
Weight120 lbs
Next of kinSister, Mrs Margaret McDonough, 9 Dingell Street, Dublin, Ireland
Previous military serviceServed for 12 months in 2nd Brabant?s Horse, South Africa; 18 months in Marshall?s Horse, South Africa; 6 months in Duke of Edinburgh?s Own Volunteer Rifles, South Africa.
Enlistment date11 September 1916
Place of enlistmentBowen, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name25th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/42/5
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A75 Marathon on 27 October 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll51st Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 9 August 1919
Discharge date27 October 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Brisbane, 27 October 1916; absent without leave, Fremantle, 9 November 1916; re-embarked, 29 January 1917; disembarked Devonport, England, 27 March 1917.

Marched into 13th Training Bn, Codford, 28 March 1917.

Found guilty, 17 May 1917, of being absent without leave from 8.00 am, 15 May, to 1.10 pm, 18 May 1917: awarded 21 days? Field Punishment No 2; forfeited a total of 25 days' pay.

Found guilty, 18 June 1917, of being out of camp bounds at a restricted hour without a pass, 11 pm, 17 June 1917: forfeited a total of 1 days' pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 25 June 1917; marched into 4th Australian Division Base Depot, Havre, 27 June 1917.

Found guilty, 9 July 1917, of (1) being in town without a pass, (2) out of bounds, 7 July 1917: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 1.

Proceeded to join unit, 11 July 1917; taken on strength, 51st Bn, 15 July 1917.

Found guilty, 6 August 1917, of being absent without leave from 6.00 am, 2 August, to 7.00 am, 3 August 1917: awarded 40 days' Field Punishment No 1; forfeited a total of 43 days' pay.

Found guilty, 16 September 1917, of neglecting to obey standing order in that he was in an estaminet during prohibited hours, 16 Sept 1917: forfeited a total of 3 days' pay.

Found guilty, 13 November 1917, of being absent from parade, 9.30 am, 10 November 1917: forfeited a total of 2 days' pay.

Found guilty, 3 January 1918, of being absent without leave from 9.00 am, 26 December, to 7.00 pm, 29 December 1917: awarded 21 days? Field Punishment No 2; forfeited a total of 25 days' pay.

Found guilty, 25 January 1918, of being absent without leave from 10 January, to 16 January 1918: awarded 60 days? Field Punishment No 1; forfeited a total of 74 days' pay.

Found guilty, 15 April 1918, of being absent from parade, 10.00 am, 13 April 1918: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Wounded in action, France, 24 April 1918; admitted to 5th Casualty Clearing Station, 25 April 1918; transferred to No 6 General Hospital, Rouen, 26 April 1918; embarked for England, 28 April 1918 (gassed); admitted to Reading War Hospital, England, 29 April 1918; transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 3 June 1918; discharged on furlough, 5 June 1918, to report to No 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 19 June 1918.

Found guilty, 24 June 1918, of being absent without leave from 11.00 am, 19 June, to 9.30 am, 22 June 1918: admonished; forfeited a total of 4 days' pay.

Marched into No 4 Command Depot, 24 June 1918.

Found guilty, 27 September 1918, of receiving money, knowing it to be stolen from a comrade, 20 September 1918: sentenced to 6 months' detention from 1 October 1918.

Marched out to Lewes Detention Barracks, 4 October 1918; admitted to Detention Barracks, 4 October 1918; discharged to report to No 4 Command Depot, 21 February 1919; marched into No 4 Command Depot, 23 February 1919.

Commenced return to Australia, from England, on board HT 'Ceramic', 9 August 1919; disembarked Sydney, 3 October 1919; discharged, 27 October 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, KELLY John Joseph