SAPPER FRANCIS KELLY
7256 – Reinforcements Tunnelling Companies
Francis Kelly was born in Dublin, Ireland about 1874. He had served ten years with the Imperial Navy Reserves until his time expired and was married with no children. He had been previously rejected for Active Service Abroad due to varicose veins.
At the Adelaide Street Recruiting Depot in Brisbane, Queensland the forty-two year old seaman applied to enlist and passed the medical examination on March 15, 1917. Attestation Forms were completed the same day and show his personal particulars were cms (5ft 5½ins) in height, weighed 65.9kgs (145lbs) with a chest expansion of cms (38-40ins). Medium was his complexion with hazel eyes and brown hair and his vision tested to fair. Distinctive marks were two vaccination scars from immunization in infancy. Roman Catholic was his faith. His wife Mrs Mary Kelly of St Kilda House, Herbert Street, Ipswich Road, South Brisbane, Qld was nominated as next-of-kin. He was sworn in the same day.
At the Enoggera Training Camp, Brisbane No. 18307 Private Kelly commenced basic training with the Unallotted Group for the first five days then on March 20, 1917 was allotted to the 14th Reinforcements to the 31st Battalion for Musketry Training at the Rifle Range Camp until March 23. He was transferred to the Miners’ Depot (1st Military District) for further training and during this time he was granted Home Leave. Two days leave was recommended extended to four days from April 23 to April 27, 1917 to spend a few days with his wife at home and to conduct business in the city. He received two days pay for the recommended leave.
On May 5, 1917 he was transferred to the Miners’ Training Camp at Seymour, Vic and assigned to the April, 1917 Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies with the regimental number 7256 in the rank of Sapper until May 20 then to commence further Tunnelling training the next day. Comments on his work during May were:
In need of drill and getting same
Improving slowly
Works well.
He was admitted to Seymour Clearing Hospital on May 28 suffering from Chronic Rheumatism and recommended to appear before the Medical Board. After an overnight stay in hospital he was sent to the Rest Room until he met the Board on May 29, 1917. His medical case history follows:
Disability:Chronic Rheumatism
Origin of Disability:1912
Place of Disability:At sea
Essential Facts:Five years ago contracted Rheumatism. Has had a couple of attacks since and has just been treated at the Clearing Hospital.
Causation:Exposure
Caused by Active Service:Not caused by any service conditions
Present condition:He has rheumatism of the shoulders and back which makes him inefficient.
The mitral sounds are bruish.
Treatment applied:Yes, in hospital.
Loss or tooth decay:Not Dental.
Recommendation:Discharge as permanently unfit.
Pathological condition:Chronic Rheumatism and Mitral digression?
After eighty-five days service on June 7, 1917 Sapper 7256 Francis Kelly received his Discharge at Seymour, Vic due to medical unfitness and not through misconduct.
During the period of service his Camp and Depot Duties consisted of:
42 hours of Squad Drills without arms
12 hours of Physical Drills
38 hours of Musketry training including firing instruction, positions, use of cover and range
practices
9½ hours of Bayonet Fighting
12 hours of Extended Order Drill
31 hours of Route Marching
5 hours of Guard and Sentry duties
10 hours of Entrenchment work
25 hours of Demolition training
28 hours in Working Parties
9 hours Company drill
6 hours of Extra Order Drill
3 hours of Lectures.
Sapper 7256 Francis Kelly, Reinforcements to Tunnelling Companies received no service medals as he did not leave Australia.
© Donna Baldey 2010