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Married: 19th February 1919. Pershore, Worcester, England. Marriage Cert:ME 7685.
Died: 1969. Burwood, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:19589/1969.
Joseph Richard Kelly enlisted with B Company, 33rd Battalion AIF at Armidale, N.S.W on the 29th of April 1916 and
left Sydney on board HMAT A68 "Anchises" on the 24th of August 1916 and disembarked at Devonport, England on the 11th of October
and was marched to the 9th Training Battalion for the next month before proceeding overseas for France via Southampton on the
21st of November 1916.
20th July 1917.
I wish to bring before you special notice the gallant conduct and devotion
to duty displayed by the NCO's and men.
Private: 752 William Charles DELANEY. 33rd Battalion.
Private: 2210 Joseph Richard KELLY. 33rd Battalion.
Lance Corporal: 2019 Theodore SMITH. 33rd Battalion.
Near MESSINES on night of the 15/16th July 1917. For conspicuous gallantry and
devotion to duty. Private KELLY acted a guide and runner to the party in the diggings of the new front
line system in fron of PINE AVENUE. He guided the various parties to their tasks with great repidity and
excellent judgement and by his confident demenour and prompt actions, inspired confidence in the men
and greatly facilitated the work in hand throughout the 6 days of the tour in the trenches Private KELLY
repeatedly carried messages to the fron line and to Battalion Headquarters under heavy fire when
telephonic communications failed.
He has always distinguished himself by his courage, promptness and cheerfulness. Private KELLY has also
been specially mentioned in Brigade and Battalion Orders for his splindid actions in the Battle of MESSINES
when he acted as Company Runner, constantly taking messages to the front line and new posts through heavy
artillery fire and also acting as guide to incomming reliefs to the advanced posts.
London Gazette 17th September 1917. Page 9614 Position 8.
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 24th of January 1918. Page 83
Position 17.
12th December 1917
Joseph was commended for his actions, and reccommended for a Military Medal
Returned to Australia on the 9th of February 1920 with his wife Eva on board the "Themistocles" and was discharged from the
AIF on the 2nd of April 1920.
Joseph was a single 18 year old Labourer from Myall Creek, Bingara, N.S.W.
(Australian National Archives)
Under Construction. 22/09/2009.
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