Number Private 6300

Battalion 7th Battalion

Place of Birth Smeaton

Next of Kin His father Stephen Kelley of Leongatha

Date and place of enlistment Brunswick 14/4/16

Physical details on enlistment Age 19 years 4 months, 5'8",
brown eyes and dark brown hair

Religion Church of England

Occupation not given

Date and place of death

He returned to Leongatha and was accidently killed while
rabbit shooting in McCartin's paddock on August 2nd 1919

Location of grave or memorial

He was buried in Leongatha Cemetery�s Church of England Section grave F26.

Relationship to Woorayl Shire

His family moved to Leongatha during World War 1. His sisters Daisy, Lillian, Rose and Therese all attended Leongatha State School. He had two brothers who served in WW1, Joseph and James Kelley

Military History

His family was living in Malmsbury when he enlisted and then moved to Leongatha in 1917.
14/4/16 He enlisted
11/9/16 He embarked Melbourne in HMAT Euripides
26/10/16 He disembarked Plymouth
13/12/16 He went to France via Folkestone
23/12/16 He joined his Battalion
He fought at the Bapaume, Messines Ridge and Menin Road battles..
4/10/17 He was wounded in the right leg at Broodeseinde Ridge
10/10/17 He was in England at the Devonport Military Hospital
15/5/18 He returned to France
23/5/18 He returned to his Battalion.
5/7/18 He was wounded again at Le Hamel
13/7/18 He returned to his Battalion
He served at the battles of Villers Bretonneux and Lihons
17/4/19 He left England and returned home to Leongatha
2/8/19 He was accidently killed
* At the time of his death in August William was still in the Army and waiting for discharge. As such his death was treated the same as if he died on active service overseas. This explains why his family received the same entitlement s with respect to memorial scroll and death plaques . His names is on the roll of honour in the War Memorial Canberra