TOM KELLY - EX - WW11 - PNGVR TURNS 100.
One hundred years ago on the 29th of April 1924, Tom was the first of eight children born to parents Thomas and Catherine Kelly in Mascot, Sydney.
Tom went along with his father to what are now significant Sydney landmarks; the laying of the original tarmac on the Mascot airstrip (as it was known then), and carting soil to build the ramparts on the southern approach to the Sydney Harbour bridge.
He got to see Bert Hinkler the Australian aviator land at Mascot and to see the young Nancy Bird Walton, taking flying lessons there. She was the first woman he’d ever seen wear trousers.
In 1942 at just 18 years of age, Tom volunteered to enlist in the army. He was the sole breadwinner for his widowed mother and seven younger siblings. He hand-dug air raid shelters for his family's protection at the family home in Mascot and at another family property before departing.
Tom trained at a number of bases in Australia before being deployed by troop ship to New Guinea. He served in the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (now known as RAEME). His mechanical knowledge and a truck license were rare qualifications in those days.
Tom has three service numbers: Initially; N372359, then with the 2nd AIF & Infantry; NX193711 and post war; 1/59454 (altered to 859454 in 1959) with the Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (PNGVR), for a further eight years for service. He held the rank of Sergeant when the war ended.
Tom’s main service during the war was on barge transports and was in the actions of the battles of Buna and Gona, taking troops and supplies to shore. This unit was known as the Number 43 Australian Army Water Transport and Operating Company (landing craft), AIF. It had a prestigious membership which included Frank Packer, Nigel Bowen and Ninian Stephen (all later knighted), under the commanding officer, Major Mitchell.
He remained in New Guinea for thirty years, leaving just prior to Independence. By staying on he was better able to financially support his family back in Australia.
In 1946 he owned and operated a barge transport out of Lae 200 miles up the east coast. This was at a time when there were no lighthouses or navigational aids and many uncharted reefs. Just a compass and the coastline.
Using war surplus trucks, he ran a truck transport into the gold fields of Bulolo in the New Guinea Goldfields. He was a pioneer famer, cutting farmland from the rainforest in the Markham valley behind Lae. At one time he harvested 6 tons a week of sweet potato for the New Guinea government. He imported the very first dairy cattle into NG, the Australian Illawarra Shorthorn (AIS), and began the first dairy which he later sold to the Anglican Mission.
When asked how he spent his 21st birthday he will tell you it was fighting the Japanese.
One of his proudest legacy’s was being able to start a school for the local children in the Wawin area, approx. 47 miles, 75km from Lae. Seeing a desperate need for the education of the native children he approached the district commissioner who offered a schoolteacher on the proviso he built the classroom. He had a schoolroom and barracks built and provided a truck and driver to bring the children down each week and returned for the weekend. A couple of parents rotated each trip to help care and cook for the children during the week. It was such a remote and difficult terrain that this was the only feasible way for them to attend school. Wawin school today has about 500 students and 27 teachers.
In 1959 Tom married his first wife Edith Baker a nursing sister from England. They had 4 children, Thomas, Lauren, Dawn and Sharon. Tom has 4 grandchildren from his marriage to Edith.
Later in life he remarried to Edna de Coque (nee Berry), and 2 stepchildren Roy and Clare joined the family. In 1971 they set up home in the farming area of Thora near Bellingen and farmed cattle. Always looking for the next opportunity, Tom and Edna ran an engineering business in Bellingen that primarily serviced the agricultural and timber and industries.
In later years Tom and Edna retired to the quiet coastal town of Tin Can Bay. They were both active in the community and in fundraising. From their home, Tom gave free violin lessons to the primary school children whilst Edna gave music theory lessons.
Service with PNGVR.
Tom was an initial member. He recalls that an older regular army WO, who also had active service, approached him and others in the Lae district who also had served in the war to join the unit when it was being raised.
While Tom had finished the war as an acting Sergeant, he and the others were asked to drop their rank to join, so consequently in the Coronation parade he has no rank. He and others who dropped their rank acted as the early instructors. "One such person went onto to be the Governor General of PNG who served while Dad was there. Dad does have a thank you from that GG, addressed to Sergeant Thomas Kelly." This is related to the Independence of PNG and sits on top of the camphor wood box in his lounge room.
When the unit was raised in Lae it had no transport. At the time he had his own transport business, so he supplied the trucks, drivers, a native workforce to erect camp and cook boys to run the kitchen.
He recalls meeting HRH Prince Philip while inspecting the troops on parade and Prince Philip, on seeing Dad’s service medals, asked to the effect “Haven’t you done enough?”. At the same parade, Prince Philip asked the accompanying Lieutenant “How many to the company” the officer replied “120 Sir” and Prince Philip replied “I know how many are in a Company. How many are in this Company?” The reply was a deflated “30 Sir”.
He also recalls the accelerated / intensive training being carried out during the Indonesian confrontation situation.
His son Tom recalls seeing a submachine gun in a display case of the Lae RSL in 1971, that his father had donated. It was either a Sten or Owen gun.
In 1957 three Kelly brothers served with A Coy PNGVR in Lae, Tom Kelly, William (Bill) Kelly (dec’d), later Major, and Laurie Kelly, later Lt Col), now living in Newcastle.
Thank you to Tom’s son and daughter, Tom Kelly Jnr and Sharon Dudley.
PNGVR Lae at the Queen's Coronation Parade. Tom Kelly tall soldier on left in front rank.
Tom on ANZAC Day 2021. Tin Can Bay Queensland.
The balloon says it all. On his birthday Clare de Coque, Tom Kelly and Sharon Kelly.
