Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James was a Gallipoli veteran.

James was born in 1888 at Tallangatta, Victoria. He was one of thirteen children to John Wise and Elizabeth Anne Eliza (née Down) Kelly. James’ father passed away when James was only ten years-old. He died of consumption at the family farm, “Wagra”.

When war was declared on the 4th of August 1914, James was working as a labourer in the Tallangatta district. It wasn’t long before he decided to enlist and “do his bit”. He signed his attestation papers on the 14th of January 1915 becoming Private James Kelly, Regimental Number 1966 of the 5th Reinforcements for the 8th Battalion, 1st AIF. The 8th Battalion was raised at Broadmeadows Camp, north of Melbourne and was the last of the four battalions raised in the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division. By the time James enlisted the battalion was already overseas and training in Egypt. 

After completing their initial training at Broadmeadows, the 5th Reinforcements embarked on HMAT A20 Hororata at Port Melbourne on the 17th of April 1915. On the 22nd of June they joined the 8th Battalion which was currently being held in reserve at Anzac due to it being 500 men below establishment. James would survive the attack on Lone Pine during the August offensive. He would experience the trials and tribulations of serving in the trenches on the Gallipoli Peninsula. On the 11th of November he was admitted to No. 3 Australian General Hospital on Lemnos suffering with a knee condition. He rejoined the battalion on Anzac on the 21st of November. By that stage the Allied forces on the peninsula were going through the preparations for evacuation. Two days prior to their evacuation, the position that the 8th Battalion was occupying was heavily shelled by the Turks. The battalion suffered 2 killed and 3 wounded.

The 8th returned to Egypt on the 7th of January having sailed from Lemnos on the Empress Britain, where they continued their training. Two and a half months later they left Egypt, arriving at the Port of Marseilles on the 30th of March. On the first day of June James was admitted to the 2nd Field Ambulance suffering from influenza. His stay would be short, being discharged to duty on the 8th. The battalion's first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme Valley in July of 1916. James would survive the horror that became Pozieres. Towards the end of August he was promoted to Corporal. After surviving one of the coldest winters for many years, James was admitted to the 1st Stationary Australian general Hospital at Dieppe on the 2nd of May, although the reason why is not recorded. It was severe enough for him to be sent to England where he was admitted to the Kitchener Military Hospital. He was discharged from the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital on the 8th of June and was transferred to the Training Depot at Hurdcott.

The 27th of July saw James being transferred to the Machine Gun Training Depot at Belton Park near Grantham in Lincolnshire. During the next three and a half months, James would undertake an intense training course to turn him into a machine gunner. His training would include how to use and care for a number of different guns, including the Vickers, Lewis and Hotchkiss machine guns. James moved out the 2nd Machine Gun Company which was billeted at Noordpeene about ten kilometres west of the French-Belgium border. 

James was selected to attend an Officer’s Training School in England. On the 9th of November James found himself waiting out the front of the Officers Cadet School at Trinity College, Oxford. He qualified for his Commission on the 1st of May 1918. The image below shows the graduating officers of No. 6 Officer Cadet Battalion. James is number 5. The commanding officer of the Cadet School included the following remarks about James in his final report;

“Backward in theoretical work, but quite at home in all practical work. Determined, reliable, good disposition, and generally excellent character. Will make a very fine officer.”

On the 27th of July 1918, newly appointed 2nd Lieutenant James Kelly “proceeded overseas” along with the Machine Gun Reinforcements to join their company in France. He joined the 1st Battalion at their billets in Racquinghem, approximately 40 kilometres west of Armentieres. James had arrived as the battalion was making preparations to participate in the Battle of Amiens. 

The 1st Battalion, which was part of the 1st Australian Division, moved south to join the newly formed Australian Corps under the command of Lieutenant General Sir John Monash. It would be the first time that all five Australian divisions would operate as a Corps. On the 8th of August the battalion took part in the capture of Morcourt and Chippily while on the 21st of August they were involved in the capture of Chuignolles, Chuignes and Proyart. After this the battalion was taken out of the line for a rest at Morcourt. Unfortunately, James was not amongst them.

James’ Red Cross File provides an eye-witness account of what happened to him;

“I knew him well; he was in O. 8. In Command, and I was alongside him when he was killed by M.G. Fire. He was rushing at a Fritz M.G. to bomb it outside Chuignes. Outside Morcourt about 2. p.m. on August 23rd. 1918. He called for volunteers and before anyone could reply he rushed out himself. The M.G. was fifty yards away; he only got about ten yards when hit. He died instantly by a bullet through the head. I saw him buried where he fell; a rough cross was placed in the Grave. There were hundreds of men buried in the same locality. We continued to hold the ground and advanced further at once.

Inf:- Private. A. E. Hammell. 7744.

1st Australians. C. 12

Australian Conv. Camp

Rouelles.”

At some stage James’ remains were reinterred in the Heath Cemetery in Picardie, France. He is also remembered on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, and the Towong Shire Boer War and WW1 Roll of Honour. For his service during the First World War, he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

James’ mother Eliza, received a letter from Lieutenant Colonel B Stacy, the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, in November of 1918 about her son’s death. The letter was published in the 7th of November 1918 edition of Upper Murray and Mitta Herald.

“Dear Mrs Kelly, - I am writing to tender you my very deep sympathy for the loss you have sustained in the death of your son, Lieutenant J.P. Kelly, C Company, First Battalion. He was struck by a machine-gun bullet, while gallantly leading his men against an enemy position, which was shortly afterward taken by us. Though he only recently joined us, he had already shown great promise as an officer, and his work on the day he was killed had been very valuable. It occurred during the attack on Chuic Nolles. So much ground was taken from the enemy together with large numbers of prisoners, and I hope the attack played its part in causing the present retirement of the enemy, which we all hope will continue. All his fellow officers join with me in their expressions of sympathy - Yours sincerely, R. Stacey, Lieutenant-Colonel''