Ernest Roger Kelly, of North Fremantle, was killed outright in the Battle of Hamel, in France on 4 July 1918, aged 23.
A letter dated 22 February 1919 was sent to his father Andrew and mother Elizabeth Mary in reference to the late No.7492 Private E.R. Kelly, 44th Battalion. In part it read:
‘I am now in receipt of advice which shows he was killed by shell fire about 8 a.m., on the morning of 4.7.18 during the attack on Hamel, France. His body is buried about 500 yards east of Hamel.’
In February 1923 Andrew Kelly wrote again after hearing from mates of Ernie that he was buried with another man 400 yards east of Hamel.
‘ I received photos from the Department with the particulars that he lay in a field 400 yards east of Hamel, on the right side of the road, the nearest railway station being Hamel, France. From private information given by his mates who visited the grave, two soldiers were laid to rest, one alongside of the other, my son being one of them.
I hope this information will be of use in the endeavours to identify the body, and will will await your further advice, which I trust will be more satisfactory.’
This document gave me the clues.
Document D47534 Copy of D.16
KELLY. E.R. 44TH BATTALION, A.I.F
Killed in Action, 4.7.18.
“Killed by shell fire on the morning of 4.7.18 (about 8am) during the attack by the Battalion on HAMEL.|
Killed outright. [handwritten (62 D SE)]
Buried at (Sheet Bayonvillers, Edt.L.1/20,000) P.10.b.30.50. “about 500 yards E. of HAMEL.”
I located the map Sheet Bayonvillers, then the coordinates, and finally mapped those onto a digital map to identify the place as best we could. There was a small cairn on the site and we have added our own concrete stone. While I can’t be absolutely certain this is the place where Ernie was buried its an informed guesstimate.
