Kelly, Leslie Timothy (Lieutenant, b.1906 - d.1979)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX37811 Lieutenant Leslie Timothy Kelly, 2/29 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Malaya, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies and at sea, 1942-1946.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of twelve letters, three telegrams, four postcards, one envelope, and one Certificate of Service relating to Lieutenant Leslie Timothy Kelly. These items cover the period of Lieutenant Kelly’s service in Malaya, time as a prisoner of war of the Japanese, return to Australia, and discharge. The letters and postcards were written by Lieutenant Kelly to his wife, Sylvia Joan Kelly (née Sissons). In his letters, dated between 25 January 1942 and 2 October 1945, Lieutenant Kelly writes about his safe journey to Malaya, marching through rubber plantations, interactions with people of many different nationalities, feeling homesick, bathing arrangements, the siege of Singapore, being bombed by enemy aircraft, using an abandoned car, frustrations with wet weather, being taken as a prisoner of war, thinking of his family, his liberation, appreciating air-dropped supplies, returning home via Morotai, plans for the future, being examined by medical specialists, receiving mail from home, hearing news of the prisoners of Sandakan Camp, rehabilitation, local sightseeing, and preparing to return home.

Lieutenant Leslie Timothy Kelly enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 19 July 1940. He joined 2/29 Australian Infantry Battalion, and served with this unit in Malaya. In early 1942, Lieutenant Kelly was captured by the Japanese as a prisoner of war. He was interned at a prisoner of war camp at Kuching, Borneo. After the war, Lieutenant Kelly returned to Australia, and was discharged on 19 January 1946.