| 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 |
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| Places | |
| Conflicts/Operations |
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| 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 |
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Lawrence Andrew Kelly
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 |