The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with K.

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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

Pte. James Kelly .     British Army 6th Battalion, D Coy. 17 Platoon Gordon Highlanders   from Wigan

James Kelly (Grandfather) joined the 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders in 1943 after working as a toolmaker in Wigan. James, after initial training, was sent to North Africa with the 6th Battalion and spent most of his time in North Africa guarding Italian and German prisoners. James met his two brothers by accident in Souse Tunisia, Bill who was serving with the RAF and Mick in the Royal Corp of Logistics, an unexpected meeting in a foreign land.

Jim was sent to Italy and again spent time guarding German and Italian prisoners. Little is known of his time in Italy other than he spent weeks in the backs of trucks and developed blood clot in his leg from lack of movement and activity!

In 1945 he was sent with the Battalion to Palestine. The family story told to us was that on guard duty one day a Jewish or Palestinian sniper lay in wait near the guard post where James was on duty in the dark. One of James's platoon was with him when his partner lit a cigarette. James told me that there was a loud crack and his partner was hit however he said he saw where the flash came from and said he directed fire from other positions onto this position. In the morning there was a significant blood trail but no body and he assumes someone must have dragged the body away in the night!

James always said his time in Africa and Italy were easy compared to the time he spent in Palestine. James remained a private throughout the war as he was illiterate until his return to his wife Elsie who taught him to read and write! James retuned to his pre war job as toolmaker until his retirement and passed away in 1988 in Standish, Wigan.




Jane Beattie Kelly .     Land Army

My mother Jane Beattie Kelly served in the Women's Land Army at Dunalastair Gardens, Kinloch, Rannoch, Scotland from 1941-1944. Is there any way to find a record of her or any photos in an archive?




W/O Jim Kelly .     Royal Canadian Air Force w/op 419 Sqd.




L/Cpl. Jimmy Kelly .     British Army 8th Btn. C Coy. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

My grandfather, L/Cpl Jimmy Kelly, was in the 8th Btn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, `C' Coy and was taken prisoner at St Valery in France. He was taken to Stalag IXc and spent some time in the salt mines.




JN Kelly .     British Army Kings Own Scottish Borderers

JN Kelly served with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Sgt. John Verdun Kelly .     Army

The following extracts are from the YMCA Wartime Log Book supplied to Sgt John Verdun Kelley. Captured at Tobruk he passed through various Camps- Derna, Benghazi, PG60 Lucca, PG70, Stalag IVB and Stalag 357. Some of the entries are by Kelley others by "guest" writers.

Benghazi

Barren wastes of stony sand

Dry infertile desert land,

Spiked wire on every hand.

Prisoners of War

Ill clad ,unkempt and underfed,

Trading watches and rings for bread,,

With chilly concrete floors for beds,

Prisoners of War

Queueing for hours in blistering heat,

Receiving a morsal of bread and meat,

Glad, even of scraps to eat,

Prisoners of War.

Crowded together like flocks of sheep,

Bullied and driven from dawn to sleep,

Hearts are filled with hatred deep,

Prisoners of War

Cut off from the news of the outside world,

Sifting truth from taunts that are hurled,

Slightly keeping the flag unfurled,

Prisoners of War.

Striving to keep alive their hope.

Finding at times 'tis beyond their scope,

Drugging themselves with rumour dope

Prisoners of War

Setting new values ion trivial things,

The smell of a flower, a skylark that sings

The beauty,the grace of a butterfly's wing

Prisoners of War

Finding life without freedom is vain

'Tis better to die than live ever in chain,

Thank God! For hope of relief once again,

Prisoners of War

Seeing new meaning in higher things,

In life in Christ and the hope He brings

Thus did they treat the King of Kings

Prisoners of War

Finding at last, if you've the eyes to see

This glorious truth fixed by God's decree,

As long as the soul's unchained you're free.

Prisoners of War

June 23 .We awoke after a cold hungry night. The compound larger than Derna and as we were about 1000 more room to move about .In a separate cage near the gate were a party of Indian troops, used in fatigue work for strengthening the wire .In the other corner was a 40ft tower with machine guns.. Each corner had a water tank (empty) and guards patrolled all sides. We were ordered to form groups of 50 and we became N0o 22. Nothing else happened-it got hotter, more rings etc swapped across the wire for water. Someone paid £2 for a quart. Around 2pm the tanks were filled and after queueing for hours we were given a quart each., a groundsheet and 2 short poles . Rations arrived at 5pm - a tin of bully each and 2 small loaves between 3 men. Eat it all or save some? We had begun the trek down Starvation Road.

More new faces arrived and we hoped to move on- we entered hungry men and left weeks later starving wrecks. More searches-this time anything sharp. A few kept back their jackknives or we would have had no way to open the bully cans. Water ration was increased to 3 pint per day, usual ration arrived at 4pm. The cigarette supply started running out!!! Profiteering took over and cigarettes that were selling for 50 piastres for 50 rose to 10piastres each. The guards realized the opportunity and were soon exchanging cigarettes for clothes etc. Sanitary arrangements were just a row of trenches and the smell would become unbearable. Empty day followed empty day ,bored, dirty ad unshaven the main conversation was about food. At the end of the month the Italians issued cigarettes-2 between 6 men!! By rerolling the dogends we made 2 more.

By July 3 morale was low and sickness high , the MO visited but had nothing to teat anyone. Great excitement on July 6 -the RAF bombed the harbour and again on the 9th , lots of shrapnel falling on the camp but no injuries. Now we were so organised that we could make hot meals at night by soaking dry bread ,adding bully and boiling it up. Fuel was the problem, the guards became unhappy about us ripping pieces off the fence posts. The Indian fatigue troops had plenty but at a cost- 2 cigarettes for a small piece and the price of cigarettes was 5 piastres or a shilling each. Another bombing raid on the 11th and a ship hit in the harbour.

Sunday 12th and a service from a South African Padre, though it must have helped it brought everyone back to thinking of home as they took part in a service knowing family at home were doing the same. We were all given Red Cross Cards to fill in, they were handed in but to this day I never heard of any arriving. By now health was getting poor, walking an effort and dizziness when standing. We were dirty, unshaven and lice started to appear. One by one those who had kept rings etc swapped them with the guards for food-tempted by guards holding up loaves of bread The minds of the guards needed understanding, a good watch worth £5 would get maybe 2 loaves but a cheap ring from the Souk costing pennies would get 5 loaves easily Cigarettes became THE currency and money was used for card games until we found the guards would sell 40 cigarettes for £1 Egyptian. Ersatz coffee was added to our rations but what was it? A Cookhouse was also built but could only feed one compound a hot meal per day so we hot meals every third day.

Our first meal was 17 july a pint stodge of rice peas flavoured with olive oil . this cost us half a tin of bully each. The cooks found the dry rice a valuable trade item and were soon exchanging it for cigarettes. Dysentry broke out amongst the weakest but only the worst cases went to hospital I reckon about 60 died. Daily routine- get up when you felt like it, pass the time somehow until rations were drawn at noon, go to bed early to escape the day. Meals were 9am and 5.30pm and a brew of coffee in between (no milk or sugar)..

July 25 the reality of how weak we had become hit home. New latrines were needed to be dug The labour divided up and each man had 2 minutes of digging to do. Mainy were unable to complete even this.. An escape attempt was made by a couple of guys hanging onto the underside of the rubbish truck, unfortunately this went into the next compound where native SA troops saw the guys and crowding round bending down to look resulted in the 2 heroes retuning in chains for 48 hrs.

On July 27 groups from the next cage started to be moved out . July 31 we were given English bully 1 tin between 2 . We knew we would be soon and had started pooling our food to sustain us on the journey. We eat as much as we could and for the first time since capture I felt full. We paraded at 0330 next day, we had our food and 2 gallons of water why go hungry and thirsty? We were marched to the docks, the water weighed a ton but it was good to see the bombing damage that had been done We embarked on the Rosalino Pilo , although modern she soon took on the look of a slave ship as we were crammed into the holds helped by the Libyans standing on anyones fingers if they were slow on the ladders. More fun was had by throwing buckets of sea water at us through the gratings . The heat was stifling and we dreaded the night, a meal of cold fried bread,bully and water arrived at 11am and we sailed at noon.

Next days rationed were lowered in a bucket at 4pm, tin of bully and a pack of biscuits. We were told next stop was Tripoli then across to Naples. The dysentery cases became so bad that in the end they were allowed on deck. We tried to sleep in the heat with the smell of engine oil and engine noise. It was a long night but as dawn approached the hold was silent save for a few groans and moans when I heard an unknown person playing "solitude" on a mouth organ- knowing my feelings and thoughts I could sympathise with him. We were allowed up on deck at 8am and managed to stay there all day, one man was hauled up unconscious and his body was taken off at Tripoli.. Our 11am meal of biscuits and bully seemed good until we saw the meals being taken to the gun crews who were German even though it was an Iti ship. We reached Tripoli at noon

Sgt John Verdun Kelley

Names in the log book from Benghazi:

  • Sgt Taylor
  • John Toole
  • Dougie Herrage
  • Charlie Peace
  • Stitch Taylor
  • Dodger Green
  • Bill Fyfe
  • RQMS Bone
  • CSM Muldowney
  • Sgt Graham
  • Sgt Mc Dermott
  • Gdsman Hall
  • Gdsman Simpson




PO Stwd John Charles Kelly .     Royal Navy HMS Acheron   from Portsmouth

(d.24th Aug 1940)

John Kelly was my uncle, he was one of the three casualties when HMS Acheron was bombed whilst in Portsmouth Harbour. John was an orphan at birth having been abandoned by his mother. His wife was Dorothy Kelly (nee Mellor). He had four children, John, Keith, Joan and "Dinks" who lives in New Zealand and is about 85 years young. I am researching the family tree so any info would be appreciated.




Seaman John "Jack" Kelly .    




John Kelly .     British Army 8th Army

Ny grandfather John Kelly fought in the 8th Army in North Africa and Italy and was involved in the Battle of Monte Cassino. He stayed in Austria for a month after the end of the war before coming home. He told me that he was known as `Two mine Kelly' because he had stood on two land mines and managed to survive both. He was friends with a man nicknamed `Lofty'.




Sgt. John Kelly .     Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 419 (Moose) Squadron   from Lancashire

(d.23rd Sep 1943)

John Kelly was my uncle-in-law. He was shot down and killed in a raid over Mannheim, Germany. He joined the RCAF and did all of his training in Canada. His brother, Laurence and his wife have been living in Sunderland for many years. A few weeks ago Laurence died. His wife is still living in High , Sunderland who we visit every week. His wife has John's medals. John came from a large family, about 8 or 9. They live all over the place, a sister married a US airman from Burtonwood Airfield during the war and is living in the States.




Pte. John Kelly .     British Army 8th Btn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

John Kelly joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1937 and served with the 9th Battalion from 1937 to 1939 then with the London Scottish until 1942, when he transferred to the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and served in North Africa and Italy. He was awarded the 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Coronation Medal, TA Efficiency Medal (with 2 clasps) and was promoted to Corporal in 1958, being discharged on the 15th of January 1962.




Sap. John "Spider" Kelly .     British Army 100th (Royal Monmouthshire) Field Coy. Royal Engineers




Spr. John Kelly .     British Army 170th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers   from 10 Marsh Street, Parr, St Helens

(d.20th Feb 1944)

I have always known of my grand mother's brother who died on this day in this war. John Kelly was over 6 feet tall and had blonde hair and was known for knocking the gas mantle off each time he went his granny's home. It cost him each time to replace it. John was a quiet spoken handsome young man. That's how he is remembered.




John Patrick "Brendan" Kelly .     Royal Air Force 237 Squadron   from Salisbury, Rhodesia




Pte. John M. Kelly .     British Army 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment   from Preston, Lancashire

John Kelly was captured on 28th of May 1940 near Dunkirk. POW Number 10765 Lamsdorf, Stalag VIIIB/344. Working Party E490. He was married to Mary ans son Michael was born in 1938. He supported Preston North End Football Club.




Pte. Joseph Kelly .     British Army Black Watch   from Blackhill, Co Durham

I know very little about my great uncle, Joseph Kelly, although I do remember him being a funny old man who always seemed a bit of a character. I used to listen to some of the funny war stories he would tell me. This was probably a factor in me joining the British Army. I remember telling him I was joining the army and he seemed very happy for me. He sadly died before he got the chance to see me in uniform. Although I joined the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and had a successful 11 years in this regiment I always had a fondness for the Black Watch and was lucky to serve alongside them in Northern Ireland.

I do know that my great uncle was taken POW during the war, 24-26th March 1943, I still have the document that was sent back to his parents informing them that he was missing, albeit in not very good condition, along with his war medal. I cherish this family bit of history and look back at his efforts in the war with pride. I am not sure which Battalion he served with I seem to think it may of been the 5th but can't be sure. Would love to find any more information on his service.




JR Kelly .     British Army

JR Kelly served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




L M Kelly .     British Army West Yorkshire Regiment

L Kelly served with the West Yorkshire Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




L Kelly .     British Army Reconnaissance Corps

L Kelly served with the Reconnaissance Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Pte. Len Kelly .     British Army Northumberland Fusiliers   from Co. Durham

(d.1945)

Len Kelly was captured at St. Valery, France in 1940 and held as a POW in Stalag XX-A at Thorn, Poland. He was repatriated in 1944 or 45 via the Red Cross in an exchange of seriously ill prisoners, but died within a few months of being repatriated to England in 1945.




Pte. Leslie George Kelly .     Australian Army 13th Australian General Hospital Army Medical Corps   from Armidale, NSW Australia

Leslie Kelly served with the Medical Corps at 13 Australian General Hospital.




LJ Kelly .     British Army

LJ Kelly served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Gdsmn. Luke Kevin Kelly .     British Army 1st Btn. Irish Guards   from Liverpool

Luke Kelly was my grandad. He was born in Ireland and came to settle in Liverpool with his parents. He joined the Irish Guards and was captured at Anzio. He was then taken to Stalag 4B camp by the Italians. Grandad hated anything Italian! He would never talk about his time in the war. He survived and married my nan in 1946 back in Liverpool. He lived till he was 80 and passed away in 2003.




Guardsman Luke Kevin Kelly .     British Army 1st Btn Irish Guards   from Liverpool

Kevin Luke was my grandad. He was born in Ireland and came to settle in Liverpool with his parents. He joined the Irish Guards and was captured at Anzio. He was then taken to Stalag 1Vb camp by the Italians.




M Kelly .     British Army

M Kelly served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




P Kelly .     British Army

P Kelly served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




AC2. Patrick Kelly .     Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 161 Squadron (d.23rd Mar 1945)

Aircraftman 2nd Class Kelly was 25 when he died and is buried in Dromahaire (Carrickatemple) Catholic Old Graveyard, Co. Leitrim, Ireland.




Able Seaman. Peter Kelly .     Royal Navy HMS Forfar   from Placentia Bay, Newfoundland

(d.2nd Dec 1940)

I had a brother whom I never met who died with the sinking of the HMS Forfar. Peter Kelly, son of Clement and Bridget Kelly of Freshwater, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. He was born July 21, 1919 and died 2nd December 1940 when the Forfar was lost.

I have often wondered how he died, did he drown or was he killed by the explosions.




Pte. Robert Kelly .     British Army East Lancashire Regiment   from Oswaldtwistle

Like many survivors my Dad never really wanted to talk about his time in the war. It was only when he passed that I found a few photos and the newspaper cutting. I inherited his Football plaque on the passing of his Uncle who had clearly treasured it since my Dads return. He had been part of the "Long March" and when he finally arrived home he weighed less than seven stone and according to my Grandma he would still scavenge for food that had been thrown to the hens in their neighbourhood for several months. Despite this terrible period in his life he eventually became the most positive and optimistic person I have ever known.

Robert Kelly served with the East Lancashire Regiment during WW2 and was captured at Dunkirk in 1940. Released by the advancing Russian forces in Upper Silesia.

1st and 4th Battalions East Lancashire Regiment who joined the 42nd Division in 1940 prior to Dunkirk. It is not clear which battalion Robert served with however it is more probable that it was the 1st Battalion which formed part of the final defence force around the Dunkirk beaches.

Shortly after the outbreak of war with Germany the 1st South Lancashires and 1st Loyals crossed to France with, respectively, the 4th and 1st Divisions of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). By early October 1939 both battalions were in position on the Belgian frontier, where they were joined in April 1940 by the 1st and 4th East Lancashires, both of 42nd Division.

On 10th May 1940 the ‘Phoney War’ came to an abrupt end when Germany invaded Belgium and Holland. The BEF advanced into Belgium but the Allied front rapidly collapsed before the German ‘blitzkrieg’ and the British force, with its flanks exposed and its rear increasingly threatened, was obliged to make a succession of withdrawals. Ordered back from one defensive line to the next, amid scenes of growing chaos, the four Lancashire battalions fought a number of delaying actions, most notably at Tournai on the Escaut, at Lannoy and at Rousbrugge, before reaching Dunkirk.

Dunkirk 1940

All three of the 1st Battalions then took up defensive positions to cover the evacuation of the BEF. The South Lancashires held the far left of the British line, west of Nieuport, the Loyals occupied the fortified town of Bergues on the right, while the East Lancashires plugged a gap in the centre of the line along the Bergues Canal. All three units held their positions, under constant attack, until ordered to withdraw. On 1st June a determined enemy attack on the Dunkirk perimeter was halted by the gallant stand of B Company, 1st East Lancashires, for which Captain Marcus Ervine-Andrews was awarded the Victoria Cross (the only one at Dunkirk), assisted by a counter-attack by the Loyals. The three Lancashire battalions were among the last British troops to embark on the night 2nd/3rd June.

E3 Blechhammer was a working party area part of the overall Stalag 8b Complex. The prefix E referred to English although other national were included. The Room 42 on the football plaque could refer to a room containing mainly POWs from the 42nd Division.

The whole camp covered the area of 230m x 290m. The crematorium where 1500 bodies were burnt was in the south-east part of the camp. The camp was commanded by SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Otto Brossmann. During winter 1944/45, as the Red Army was closing fast, the Germans decided to evacute the camp (which became a transfer point for the prisoners from Auschwitz and other camps) and forced the prisoners into columns of 500 men each. They were ordered to march to the West. During the "Death March" people who were suffering from cold (marched barefoot, without proper winter clothing) soon started to die of exhaustion. Those who were unable to march were killed with the butts of the guns by the so-called Nachkommando which followed the columns. The camp was liberated by the Red Army on the 26th of January 1945. There were less than 200 survivors found.




PO. Ronald James "Spike" Kelly .     Royal Navy HMS Manchester   from Castle Carey

Ronald Kelly was a Petty Officer Marine Engineering Mechanic in the Royal Navy serving on HMS Manchester.





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