Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Lawrence Andrew Kelly

Service number NP2692, NX12214
Ranks Held Captain, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Temporary Lieutenant Colonel
Birth Date 1907-03-10
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Cowra
Death Date 1970-09-09
Death Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Final Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Service Australian Army
Units
  • 2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion
  • 31/51st Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflicts/Operations
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1947-03-06
Published in London Gazette in 1946-02-14
Published in London Gazette in 1941-12-30
Published in London Gazette in 1945-03-08
Published in London Gazette in 1947-03-06
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1945-03-15
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1946-02-21

Rolls

  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    31/51st Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Temporary Lieutenant Colonel
    London Gazette
    14 February 1946 on page 942 at position 81
    Commonwealth Gazette
    21 February 1946 on page 407 at position 27
  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Major
    London Gazette
    08 March 1945 on page 1305 at position 81
    Commonwealth Gazette
    15 March 1945 on page 651 at position 20
  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Captain
    London Gazette
    30 December 1941 on page 7358 at position 99
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    31/51st Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Lieutenant Colonel
    London Gazette
    06 March 1947 on page 1091 at position 65
    Commonwealth Gazette
    06 March 1947 on page 750 at position 119
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945

Timeline

Date of birth 10 March 1907
Date and unit at enlinstment (ORs) 1926
Interwar Service 1 1926 1 Fd Sqn, Royal Australian Engineers
Interwar Service 2 29 October 1931 gunner RAA 2MD
Interwar Service 3 12 August 1932 Darwin Det RAA
Interwar Service 4 14 October 1933 9 Hvy Batt RAA (Darwin)
Interwar Service 5 24 August 1934 1 Hvy Brigade RAA (2MD)
Interwar Service 6 01 January 1935 LBDR
Interwar Service 7 03 October 1935 BDR
Interwar Service 9 07 August 1936 SGT
Interwar Service 8 10 August 1936 Australian Instructional Corps Training Cadre
Interwar Service 10 12 June 1937 warrant officer Class II
Interwar Service 11 01 October 1939 H/lieutenant
Date commissioned 02 October 1939
Interwar Service 12 02 October 1939 adjutant & QM 36th battalion
Interwar Service 13 01 November 1939 Aadjutant & QM 30th battalion
Career summary 2 14 April 1940 enlisted 2AIF
Career summary 3 01 May 1940 seconded 2/13th battalion
Career summary 4 20 May 1940 attached Headquarters 20th Brigade 1
Career summary 5 10 August 1940 captain (bd 1 May 40) promul
Career summary 6 15 November 1940 adjutant
Career summary 7 26 November 1940 arrived Middle East
Career summary 8 1941-08-25 - 1941-09-08 attached Headquarters 20 Bri
Career summary 10 08 September 1941 seconded staff captain Headquarters 20 Brigade
Career summary 9 08 September 1941 relinquish adjutant
Career summary 11 02 May 1942 Mention in Despatches (Feb-Jul 41)
Career summary 12 15 June 1942 relinquish staff captain Hq 20 Brigade
Career summary 14 1942-08-28 - 1942-09-26 medical (anxiety neuro
Career summary 16 29 October 1942 returned to unit (2/13th battalion )
Career summary 15 24 November 1942 major
Career summary 17 31 December 1942 course Combined Operations School 26
Career summary 18 27 February 1943 Returned to Australia (Syd)
Career summary 19 30 July 1943 arrived Milne Bay
Career summary 20 18 December 1943 attached Headquarters 20 Brigade
Career summary 21 20 February 1944 Returned to Australia (Bris)
Career summary 22 22 April 1944 course Land Headquarters Tactical senior officers
Career summary 23 02 October 1944 attached Headquarters 9thDivision3 Sep
Career summary 24 1944-10-15 - 1944-11-25 course Land Headquarters Tactical senior offi
Career summary 25 20 November 1944 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 31 March 1945 Mention in Despatches (Papua New Guinea up to 31 Mar 44)
Career summary 27 12 July 1945 Returned to Australia (Townsville ) ex Bougainville
Career summary 28 03 August 1945 arrived Bougainville
Career summary 29 14 September 1945 arrived Nauru
Career summary 30 19 December 1945 arrived Rabaul
Career summary 31 17 January 1946 Distinguished Service Cross Gen Stores and Clothing Equipment Div, MGO Br, Headquarters AMF
Career summary 32 06 February 1946 Returned to Australia (Townsville )
Career summary 33 21 February 1946 Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
Career summary 36 01 May 1947 commanding officer 3 Australian reinforcements battalion
Career summary 34 06 May 1947 Mention in Despatches
Career summary 37 29 July 1947 commanding officer 2 Australian Rec Training battalion
Career summary 38 30 April 1948 command Headquarters Rec Training Brigade
Career summary 39 15 December 1948 commanding officer 2 Rec Training battalion
Career summary 40 06 May 1949 commanding officer 1 RAR
Career summary 41 11 July 1949 TFD Australian Staff Corps
Career summary 42 11 July 1949 lieutenant colonel (Australian Staff Corps)
Career summary 43 03 January 1951 commanding officer 11 NS Training battalion
Career summary 44 21 May 1953 chief instructor School of Infantry
Career summary 45 12 November 1954 chief instructor Jungle Training School
Career summary 46 31 August 1955 command Headquarters 2 Cdt Brigade
Career summary 47 10 March 1957 Retired List
Date of death 09 September 1970
Career summary 1 Aadjutant & QM 30th battalion
Career summary 13 course Middle East Staff School 7 Aug
Career summary 35 *** POST WAR ***
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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
WW2 Service 2 El Alamein
WW2 Service 3 New Guinea
WW2 Service 4 Bougainville