Kellow, Alfred
80 Private Alfred Kellow - 51st Battalion AIF
Alfred Kellow was born in 1880 in Newcastle NSW to John and Elizabeth Kellow. He was educated and grew up in Newcastle and after leaving school Alfred took up a Machinist apprenticeship in a local Biscuit Making factory.
In 1900 in Newcastle Alfred married Alice Russell and a daughter Vera was born in Adamstown in 1900. While in NSW Alfred had also served in the Citizens Military Forces.
In the 1900's Alfred and the family moved across to Western Australia and took up residence in the Goldfields. In 1910 he was living at Keegan Street in Boulder while working as a machinist.
By 1913 the had moved to Balfour street Kalgoorlie and Alfred was working as an amalgamator.
In 1914 Alfred began working for the Commonwealth Railway Service, initially as a Machinist. Alfred and Alice also spent time in Fremantle and when Alfred enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force, they moved from Kalgoorlie to Fremantle where they took up residence at 94 Mary Street. (later renumbered and renamed to Solomon Street)
On the 20th March 1916 Alfred enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording Alfred's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 6 inches tall;
Weight - 136lbs;
Chest Measurement - 31-34 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Grey.
Upon his successful enlistment, Alfred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.54 Training Depot. He was then taken through the basic infantry training while at the Depot Camp. He was then transferred into the 3rd Division Cyclist Company. The 3rd Division Cyclists were gathered together in NSW and left from there in June 1916 aboard the transport ship HMAT Demosthenes. The ship then set sail for England, arriving there in late July 1916.
After being disembarked, Alfred and his group were sent to the Cyclists Training Camp at Chiseldon. He remained here for the next two months but when reinforcements were requested for the infantry units in France, Alfred volunteered. He was then sent to the 13th Training Battalion. He had a few more weeks at this camp in England.
On the 2nd November 1916 Alfred was sent across to France and was marched in to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot Camp at Etaples. On the 17th November 1916 Alfred was taken on strength of the 51st Battalion AIF. They were then situated on the Somme battlefield in France.
As he was a trumpet player, Alfred found himself in the 51st battalion band. These men were often utilised as stretcher bearers in the front line (photo of Battalion band below)
Alfred served through November 1916 to March 1917 on the Somme battlefield safely. On the 2nd April 1917, the 51st Battalion took part in the attack on the village of Noreuil. He came through this and the subsequent action at Bullecourt.
From June to August 1917, Alfred and the 51st Battalion were in action on the Messines front. Alfred came through this time safely.
In September and October 1917, the 51st Battalion took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, with Alfred seeing action at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele. Alfred had been living a charmed life and again came through unscathed.
In December 1917 the 51st Battalion was sent to Peronne on the Somme but returned to Belgium in January 1918. The 51st Battalion helped to hold the front line in Belgium between Ypres and Messines through to March 1918.
On the 21st March 1918, the Germans had launched a massive assault which had broken through the British lines further south. The Australian Divisions in Belgium where then sent south to the Somme to help stop this German advance. The 51st Battalion were sent to an area between the French towns of Albert and Dernancourt and they came into contact with the Germans in late March. The Australians, including Alfred's unit, helped stop the Germans at Dernancourt.
However in April the Germans launched another large attack which captured Villers-Bretonneux. A counter attack was immediately ordered and the 51st Battalion played a large role in this attack. The 51st Battalion succeeded in capturing their objectives, however casualties were very heavy. Alfred again came through this attack unscathed.
The 51st Battalion remained around Villers-Bretonneux for the next few months. On August 8th 1918 the advance from Villers-Bretonneux commenced which put the Germans on retreat. The Australians, British and Canadian divisions pushed the Germans back along the front and for the next few months kept advancing. The 51st Battalion fought their last action on September 18th 1918 and Alfred came through safely again. They were then withdrawn for a well deserved rest period. They were still out of the line when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.
The Germans now withdrew to within their own borders and the Australian units went into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. From December 1918 to May 1919 the Australians remained in these areas. Alfred remained in France till the 8th April 1919 when he returned to England.
On the 1st June 1919 Alfred boarded the transport ship Somali and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919. Alfred was then discharged from the AIF on the 22nd August 1919.
He then resumed work for Commonwealth Railway Service, being based at Port Augusta South Australia from late 1919 onwards.
Alfred died on the 24th July 1950 in Port Augusta South Australia and was buried at Port Augusta Cemetery. The Port Augusta newspaper published a small obituary on Alfred's passing.