Private 6300

7th Battalion

Smeaton

His father Stephen Kelley of Leongatha, Victoria

Brunswick 14/4/16

Age 19 years 4 months, 5'8", brown eyes and dark brown hair

Church of England

Not given

He returned to Leongatha, was accidently killed rabbit shooting in McCartin's paddock on August 2nd 1919

He was buried in Leongatha Cemetery's Church of England Section grave F26.

His family moved to Leongatha during World War 1. His sisters Daisy, Lillian, Rose and Therese all attended Leongatha State School. He had two brothers who served in WW1, Joseph and James Kelley

His family was living in Malmsbury when he enlisted and then moved to Leongatha in 1917.
14/4/16 He enlisted
11/9/16 He embarked Melbourne in HMAT Euripides
26/10/16 He disembarked Plymouth
13/12/16 He went to France via Folkestone
23/12/16 He joined his Battalion
He fought at the Bapaume, Messines Ridge and Menin Road battles..
4/10/17 He was wounded in the right leg at Broodeseinde Ridge
10/10/17 He was in England at the Devonport Military Hospital
15/5/18 He returned to France
23/5/18 He returned to his Battalion.
5/7/18 He was wounded again at Le Hamel
13/7/18 He returned to his Battalion
He served at the battles of Villers Bretonneux and Lihons
17/4/19 He left England and returned home to Leongatha
2/8/19 He was accidently killed
* At the time of his death in August William was still in the Army and waiting for discharge. As such his death was treated the same as if he died on active service overseas. This explains why his family received the same entitlement s with respect to memorial scroll and death plaques . His names is on the roll of honour in the War Memorial Canberra