Gilgandra PO, Gilgandra, New South Wales
3075
13th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement
KIA
KELLY Private Thomas William 3075
Thomas was a 26 year old labourer of Gilgandra when he enlisted on 16 July 1915. He was 5’8” tall, 154lbs (70kgs), ruddy complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and his religion was Methodist. His mother, Mary Jane Kelly was his next of kin.
Thomas embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A70 ‘Ballarat’ on 6 September 1915 with the 13th Battalion and served in Egypt. During this time he was sick in hospital with mumps. In June 1916 he arrived in France to face the fighting at Pozieres and he served on the Western Front with the 13th Battalion until he was killed in action on 4 February 1917.
Thomas is buried at Bancourt British Cemetery France and is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial and the Gilgandra War Memorial. His personal effects were returned to his mother. They were photos, testament, discs, letters, cards and unit colours.
Mary Jane Kelly was a widow when her boys went to war and a poignant letter points out that she now has no-one. She requested the personal effects of Frederick, but unfortunately there were no effects available to return to her.
She received the Memorial Plaques, Memorial Scrolls and the boy’s medals, the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
