LEST WE FORGET
Wing Commander George Hempstead KELLY MBE
Service No: 1306 (A1306)
Born: 21 January 1896, Location unavailable
Enlisted in the RAAF: Date unavailable
Discharged from the RAAF: 3 November 1947
Unit at Discharge: RAAF Station Laverton VIC
Awarded the Order of the British Empire – Member (MBE), 1 January 1942
Died: 3 November 1947, Aged 51 Years
Buried: Melbourne General Cemetery VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James Pearson Kelly and Emma Jane Kelly; husband of Margaret May Kelly, of St. Kilda
Having died outside the specified period (3 September 1939 to 30 June 1947), Wing Commander Kelly does not meet an eligibility criterion for inclusion on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour for World War II. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission recognises that his death is the result of his Service.
Wing Commander Kelly (9523) saw World War I service and embarked on 7 March 1916.
Wing Commander Kelly was appointed Quartermaster for No. 23 Squadron at RAAF Station Laverton on 1 September 1937. He was the Officer-in-Charge of the No. 23 Squadron Detachment (first RAAF permanent presence in Western Australia) at Bullsbrook from 18 October 1937 to 11 March 1938 when Wing Commander Raymond James Brownell CBE (11) (Discharged: 25 March 1947) and the majority of the Squadron arrived in Western Australia. No. 23 Squadron was redesignated No. 25 Squadron on 1 January 1939.
References:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9300, KELLY G H; No. 23/25 Squadron Operations Record Book