Pte
John Kelly
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 13/05/1879 |
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Place of birth: Shannakyle, Clare, Ireland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: Ireland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 41232 |
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Enlistment place: Limerick, Limerick, Ireland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 8th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 10/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Frezenberg, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 38 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 46N |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 15/01/1921 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 15/01/1921 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
John Kelly was born on 13 May 1879 in Shanakyle, County Clare, Ireland. He was the son of Patrick and Bridget Kelly. John worked as a general labourer in Shanakyle and married his girlfriend, Alice Hayes, in 1906.
John originally enlisted in the Royal Munster Fusiliers at Limerick, but was later transferred to the Dublin Fusiliers, where he served in the 8th Battalion, 48th Brigade, of the 16th (Irish) Division. After having seen action in the Battle of Messines, the 16th (Irish) Division moved to the Ypres are, where it participated in the Battle of Passchendaele.
On 16 August 1917 it was to attack German positions to the West of Zonnebeke, with the 48th and 49th Brigades. In anticipation of the attack, Battalions of both Brigades occupied positions on the Frezenberg Ridge. On 9 August 1917 the 8th Dublin Fusiliers relieved the 7th Royal Irish Rifles in the frontline. While holding the line on the Frezenberg john’s Battalion suffered heavy casualties by a German barrage. A total of nine men were killed and 25 others were wounded.
John was one of the nine men of the 8th Dublin Fusiliers, killed in action on the 10th of August 1917. His remains were never recovered or were never identified and John Kelly is remembered on panel 46 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. The 38-year old left behand a wife and three young children.
John originally enlisted in the Royal Munster Fusiliers at Limerick, but was later transferred to the Dublin Fusiliers, where he served in the 8th Battalion, 48th Brigade, of the 16th (Irish) Division. After having seen action in the Battle of Messines, the 16th (Irish) Division moved to the Ypres are, where it participated in the Battle of Passchendaele.
On 16 August 1917 it was to attack German positions to the West of Zonnebeke, with the 48th and 49th Brigades. In anticipation of the attack, Battalions of both Brigades occupied positions on the Frezenberg Ridge. On 9 August 1917 the 8th Dublin Fusiliers relieved the 7th Royal Irish Rifles in the frontline. While holding the line on the Frezenberg john’s Battalion suffered heavy casualties by a German barrage. A total of nine men were killed and 25 others were wounded.
John was one of the nine men of the 8th Dublin Fusiliers, killed in action on the 10th of August 1917. His remains were never recovered or were never identified and John Kelly is remembered on panel 46 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. The 38-year old left behand a wife and three young children.
Sources 1
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8 Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1974/3). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Further reference |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1617210 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=51499d3f-6a3f-46b0-aaf6-8b082d565d82 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2217974 |