NX12214 (NP2692) Joseph Lawrence Andrew Kelly, DSO
NX12214 (NP2692) Joseph Lawrence Andrew Kelly, DSO
| Date of birth | 1907-03-10 | Cowra NSW |
| Date and unit at enlinstment (ORs) | 1926 | |
| Interwar Service 1 | 1926 | 1 Fd Sqn, Royal Australian Engineers |
| Interwar Service 2 | 1931-10-29 | gunner RAA 2MD |
| Interwar Service 3 | 1932-08-12 | Darwin Det RAA |
| Interwar Service 4 | 1933-10-14 | 9 Hvy Batt RAA (Darwin) |
| Interwar Service 5 | 1934-08-24 | 1 Hvy Brigade RAA (2MD) |
| Interwar Service 6 | 1935-01-01 | LBDR |
| Interwar Service 7 | 1935-10-03 | BDR |
| Interwar Service 9 | 1936-08-07 | SGT |
| Interwar Service 8 | 1936-08-10 | Australian Instructional Corps Training Cadre |
| Interwar Service 10 | 1937-06-12 | warrant officer Class II |
| Interwar Service 11 | 1939-10-01 | H/lieutenant |
| Interwar Service 12 | 1939-10-02 | adjutant & QM 36th battalion |
| Date commissioned | 1939-10-02 | |
| Interwar Service 13 | 1939-11-01 | Aadjutant & QM 30th battalion |
| Career summary 2 | 1940-04-14 | enlisted 2AIF |
| Career summary 3 | 1940-05-01 | seconded 2/13th battalion |
| Career summary 4 | 1940-05-20 | attached Headquarters 20th Brigade 1 |
| Career summary 5 | 1940-08-10 | captain (bd 1 May 40) promul |
| Career summary 6 | 1940-11-15 | adjutant |
| Career summary 7 | 1940-11-26 | arrived Middle East |
| Career summary 8 | 1941-08-25 - 1941-09-08 | attached Headquarters 20 Bri |
| Career summary 10 | 1941-09-08 | seconded staff captain Headquarters 20 Brigade |
| Career summary 9 | 1941-09-08 | relinquish adjutant |
| Career summary 11 | 1942-05-02 | Mention in Despatches (Feb-Jul 41) |
| Career summary 12 | 1942-06-15 | relinquish staff captain Hq 20 Brigade |
| Career summary 14 | 1942-08-28 - 1942-09-26 | medical (anxiety neuro |
| Career summary 16 | 1942-10-29 | returned to unit (2/13th battalion ) |
| Career summary 15 | 1942-11-24 | major |
| Career summary 17 | 1942-12-31 | course Combined Operations School 26 |
| Career summary 18 | 1943-02-27 | Returned to Australia (Syd) |
| Career summary 19 | 1943-07-30 | arrived Milne Bay |
| Career summary 20 | 1943-12-18 | attached Headquarters 20 Brigade |
| Career summary 21 | 1944-02-20 | Returned to Australia (Bris) |
| Career summary 22 | 1944-04-22 | course Land Headquarters Tactical senior officers |
| Career summary 23 | 1944-10-02 | attached Headquarters 9thDivision3 Sep |
| Career summary 24 | 1944-10-15 - 1944-11-25 | course Land Headquarters Tactical senior offi |
| Career summary 25 | 1944-11-20 | temporary lieutenant colonel, commanding officer 31/51st battalion |
| Appointment | 1944-11-20 - 1946-01-17 | Battalion: 31/51st; Rank on appointment: major, temporary lieutenant colonel ; Appointed from: major 2/13th battalion ; Reason for end of appointment: battalion disbanded |
| Career summary 26 | 1945-03-31 | Mention in Despatches (Papua New Guinea up to 31 Mar 44) |
| Career summary 27 | 1945-07-12 | Returned to Australia (Townsville ) ex Bougainville |
| Career summary 28 | 1945-08-03 | arrived Bougainville |
| Career summary 29 | 1945-09-14 | arrived Nauru |
| Career summary 30 | 1945-12-19 | arrived Rabaul |
| Career summary 31 | 1946-01-17 | Distinguished Service Cross Gen Stores and Clothing Equipment Div, MGO Br, Headquarters AMF |
| Career summary 32 | 1946-02-06 | Returned to Australia (Townsville ) |
| Career summary 33 | 1946-02-21 | Companion of the Distinguished Service Order |
| Career summary 36 | 1947-05-01 | commanding officer 3 Australian reinforcements battalion |
| Career summary 34 | 1947-05-06 | Mention in Despatches |
| Career summary 37 | 1947-07-29 | commanding officer 2 Australian Rec Training battalion |
| Career summary 38 | 1948-04-30 | command Headquarters Rec Training Brigade |
| Career summary 39 | 1948-12-15 | commanding officer 2 Rec Training battalion |
| Career summary 40 | 1949-05-06 | commanding officer 1 RAR |
| Career summary 41 | 1949-07-11 | TFD Australian Staff Corps |
| Career summary 42 | 1949-07-11 | lieutenant colonel (Australian Staff Corps) |
| Career summary 43 | 1951-01-03 | commanding officer 11 NS Training battalion |
| Career summary 44 | 1953-05-21 | chief instructor School of Infantry |
| Career summary 45 | 1954-11-12 | chief instructor Jungle Training School |
| Career summary 46 | 1955-08-31 | command Headquarters 2 Cdt Brigade |
| Career summary 47 | 1957-03-10 | Retired List |
| WW2 Service 3 | New Guinea | |
| Citations 4 | From SipAAI northwards increasing opposition was encountered by strongly held enemy positions. Lt-Col KELLY dealt with these with excellent encircling tactics and bold patrolling. | |
| Citations 2 | 'Lt-Col KELLY, commanding 31/51 Aust Inf Bn, was responsible for operations to clear the enemy forces from CAPE MOLTKE towards MATCHIN BAY. He successfully established a base at KURAIO and commenced patrolling to gain information of enemy localities. | |
| Citations 6 | Vigorous pursuit was successfully maintained because of a sound plan worked out by this officer after seizing a bridgehead across the GENGA RIVER before defeating the enemy in position. | |
| WW2 Service 2 | El Alamein | |
| WW2 Service 4 | Bougainville | |
| Career summary 13 | course Middle East Staff School 7 Aug | |
| Citations 7 | The remarkable success of these operations, which cleared the enemy from 25 miles of country, was due to Lt-Col KELLY's outstanding leadership, brilliant planning and determination to annihilate the enemy wherever he was found. Our troops were subjected to heavy and accurate enemy shelling in their hard fought advance over extremely rough country. Lt.Col KELLY by his frequent visits to all troops under his command, and by his personal disregard for danger and infectious enthusiasm, maintained a high morale and fighting spirit, and was an outstanding example to his troops who behaved splendidly in battle. | |
| Citations 8 | Known enemy killed were 141, and six guns, three "JUKI" MG and six LMGs were captured with other equipment.' | |
| WW2 Service 1 | Benghazi | |
| Citations 5 | The enemy determined to hold our advance on TSIMBA RIDGE with all his available forces. The position was protected by the sea, GENGA RIVER, swamps and steep razorback ridges. Lt.Col KELLY promptly initiated a sound patrol plan and on the information obtained, successfully drove the enemy, who were reinforced by naval personnel from TAIOF ISLAND and BUKA PASSAGE, and strongly reinforced with artillery, from his stronghold in a battle which commenced on 6 Feb and was succcessfully concluded on 9 Feb. | |
| Career summary 35 | *** POST WAR *** | |
| Career summary 1 | Aadjutant & QM 30th battalion | |
| Citations 3 | Lt-Col KELLY commenced the advance on 30 Dec 44 basing it on a skilfully conceived plan which rapidly cleared the enemy from the coastal area. At the same time, by sound co-ordinated patrolling deep into rough mountain country, he cleared his flank. | |
| Date of death | 1970-09-09 |
Background: Builder prior to enlisting in the PMF; Extra Service Number: NP2692; Militia Number: 2/33; Occupation: Australian Instructional Corps Officer
