William Kelley
Name William Kelley
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