Despite the best efforts, Roger Kelly remains a mystery man. He was born in Rutherglen, Victoria, in September, 1880, and was 33 years and 11 months when he enlisted on 21 August, 1914. He gave his occupation as 'Horse Breaker' and his next of kin as his brother, Patrick William Kelly, of Rutherglen. Patrick William Kelly was a vigneron and part of a large family of Kelly boys from that area, but Roger is not listed in the Electoral rolls of the pre-war years.His birth is not registered, nor his death. Whether or not he married us also unknown. he was Roman Catholic by religion, 5'*" tall and claimed that he ahd served 2 1/2 years with the Victorian Military Reserve. At the time he enlisted, he was living at 14 Powlett St., East Melbourne.This is Devon House, a splendid 1880's terrace house, which could have been a boarding house in 1914.
Another mystery is where he trained. His military record doesnot say, but on enlistment, he was a Private, and a month later, was promoted to Lance Corporal, perhaps on the voyage to Egypt. Once at Mudros, Egypt, he fell ill with diarrohea and on 26 December, 1914, was transferred to hospital, then to Convalescent Camp on 12 October. He was again ill in late December, this time with Rheumatism, and back in hospital, this time St Michael's Hospital at Malta. He was discharged from hospital on 15 March, 1915, and taken on strength with the 59th Battalion on 3 April, having reverted back to Private.
The 59th was one of the battalions in rotation protecting the Suez Canal, given familiar names top local features by the Australian troops: Sheep's Dip, Gundagai, Broadmeadows and Duntroom Plateau. On 3 May, 1916, Roger Kelly was ill again, this time with Pleurisy at Duntroon Plateau. On 5 May, he was taken by the 8th Field Ambulance to Ferry Post, the military camp and Air Station on the Suez Canal, with chest pains. he again rejoined his unit from hospitall.
The chest pains occurred again on 8 May, and he was taken to the 8th Abulance Station at Hog's Breath Camp for medical treatment, then to Ferry Post hospital. He was discharged to duty again on 16 May. Kelly was admitted on 26 June to the 3rd Australian Hospital at Abbassia, identified as having 'debility'. On 6 May, he was discharged to duty, ex the 8th Field Ambulance and then taken on strength at Ferry Post.On 6 June, he was ill again, this time at Moascar. By now the AIF battalions had been re-organised and were leaving Egypt to fight on the Western Front.
Roger Kelly embarked for England on 26 June, 1916, on the Hospital Ship Galeta from Alexandria.He was still not well, suffering from debility and bronchitis. He was no longer with his battalion, but was stationed at the No. 1 Command Depot and assigned to the 15th Training Battalion at Lark Hill on 22 August, 1916. He was still unwell with bronchitis in August/September and it was not until 1 October, that he was discharged from the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth and assigned to the 59th Battalion Reinforcements.
Roger Kelly was sent to France , landing at Etaples on 30 October, 1916 and marching in to the 5th Australian Division Base Depot. He remained there for six months, finally marching out to the 59th Battalion on 17 March, 1917, and was taken on strength on 30 March. By 11 May, he was unwell again, this time with Trench Fever. He was sent back to England and treated at the 1st Birmingham War Hospital.
By now, his military career, such as it was, was over. Once out from hospital, he was placed on furlough, probably while his passage home was organised. On 27 July, he embarked from England on the A64 Demosthenes. He was discharged from further military service on 20 October 1917.
In 1964, a letter from the State Trustees, Sydney, to the military authorities said he had died on 5 February, 1963,