Patrick Wilford Kelly
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1893 |
| Place of Birth | Ballarat, Victoria |
| Death | 20 Aug 1954 |
| Place of Death | Victoria Park, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 21 years, 11months |
| Description |
5'5½" (1.66m) tall ; 136 lbs 61.689 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Sleeper hewer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | c/- Post Office, Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Patrick Kelly |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 1625 |
| Date of Enlistment | 20 Jul 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 32nd Battalion, 1st Reinforcement allocated to A Company / 8th Brigade, 5th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 18 Nov 1915 ‒ 18 Dec 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A2 Geelong Adelaide to Egypt |
| Date of Return | 4 May 1917 ‒ 25 Jun 1917 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A32 Themistocles |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 20 Jul 1916 at Fromelles Returned to Australia |
| Monument | none currently |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Patrick entered Blackboy Hill camp on 20 Jul 1915 and was placed in the 16th Depot Company for basic training. Several weeks later, Patrick was allocated to the 32nd Battalion's 1st reinforcement draft and he travelled with them first to Adelaide, and then to Egypt, arriving on 15 Dec 1915. (The 32nd Battalion was a combined WA & SA unit that completed its Australian training in Adelaide).
On 16 Feb 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir he was taken on strength by the 32nd Battalion, and allocated to 'A' Company. On 23 Mar 1916 the battalion moved closer to the canal when they assumed garrison duties at Ferry Post. In late April the battalion moved to Moascar camp for final training before travelling by train on 16 Jun 1916 to Alexandria, where they embarked on the HMT Transylvania for Marseilles (17 - 23 Jun 1916). While at Moascar, on 11 May 1916 Patrick had been admonished for failing to comply with an order given to him by an NCO.
On arrival in Marseilles they travelled by train to Steenbecque before being billeted at Fleurbaix 15-16 Jul 1916. 'A' Company 32nd Battalion entered the front lines of the Western Front for the first time on 18 July 1916. Next day, at 5:53pm the battalion's first wave went over the parapet, and two and a half hours later the battalion had lost 71 KIA, 375 WIA, with 219 MIA. Patrick received a gun shot wound to his left forearm which fractured it, and he was seen on 20 Jul 1916 by the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station before being admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne on 21 Jul 1916. After further assessment, he was embarked aboard HMHS Cambria on 22 Jul 1916 for England.
Following treatment at the Fulham Military Hospital, he spent from 8 - 20 Dec 1916 with the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital before proceeding on furlough until 4 Jan 1917. At the completion of his leave he was sent to the No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth until 13 Jan 1917 when he was transferred to the 8th Training Battalion at Hurdcott. On 16 Apr 1917 he returned to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth with the decision having been made to return him to Australia. Patrick was discharged by the 5th Military District on 25 Oct 1917, and granted a pension of 40/- per fortnight from 26 Oct 1917.
Post War
In 1921 he married May Rewell Stephens. May died on 28 Mar 1974 in Victoria Park.
Electoral Roll entries - 1919 at 9 Rathay street, Victoria Park, a letter carrier; 1921-25 at 7 Shepparton road, Victoria Park. 1936 - 37 at 67 Shepparton road, and in 1943 - 54 at 167 Shepparton road, Victoria Park (1943 with salesgirl Patricia Rae b. 1921) (1949 - 53 with carpenter Kevin Wilford Kelly b. 14 Jun 1924 - who served with the RAAF during WW2]. May remained at 167 Shepparton road until 1972 at least. May died on 28 Mar 1974 in Victoria Park, aged 81
Notes