Kelly-David-Gray

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

934906

Lance Bombardier

David Gray Kelly

1917/05/02 - Born Glasgow

Son of William (Robert) and Margaret Kelly

Royal Artillery

80 Anti-Tank Regiment

Service

*1941/08/28*	*Mobilisation Centre to join 80th Anti-Tank Regiment. Departed Nottingham for Gourock, Scotland.*

*1941/08/29 14:00*	*Boarded HMT Scythia (Ex. RMS Scythia, Cunard Line)*
*1941/08/30 23:00*	*Convoy sailed for Singapore. (although no one onboard knew the destination at this time) This was named Convoy WS 11.*
*1941/09/13*	*Arrived Freetown, Sierra Leone.*
*1941/09/18*	*Sailed from Freetown.*
*1941/10/03*	*Arrived Durban, South Africa.*
*1941/10/07*	*Changed ships to SS Johan de Witt and sailed from Durban.*
*1941/10/22*	*Arrived Bombay, India*
*1941/10/27*	*Sailed from Bombay.*
*1941/10/31*	*Called into Colombo, Sri Lanka.*
*1941/11/06*	*Arrived Singapore.*

Upon disembarking the men were marched to the railway station where they entrained. 32 men were left at the docks to deal with weapons, stores and other equipment, for delivery over the next few days. *Instead of remaining together as a 4 battery regiment, the 80th Anti-Tank Regiment were informed that each gun crew would be operating independently under different commands.* *Battery 2 and 215 were to come under the command of 11th Indian Division.* *Battery 272 was to come under the command of 9th Indian Division.* *Battery 273 was to come under the command of Malaya Command.* *All battery’s were in action in Malaya.* *There are no records to confirm which battery that Alfred operated with, but he did state 11th Indian Division on his Liberation Questionnaire.* *Battery 272 were in action at Taiping, Kuala Krai, Gong Kedah Aerodrome, and Port Swettersham and reported mainly to the 5th Baluch Regiment.* *Battery 2 and 215 were further north around Alor Star Aerodrome and Sungai Patarni.*
*1941/12/08*	*The Japanese land at Sungai Patarni and Khota Baru.* For the next 3 months the allied forces fought a retreating action throughout Malaya, with particular strong battles at places they thought would become a holding line such as the Slim River. However, this was not just a battle of troops as the Japanese were jungle trained, had plenty of tanks, but most important had a massive airforce. The British and Australian airforce consisted of very old and slow aircraft such as Brewster Buffalo which were no match for the bombers and Zero fighters. Even the arrival of 50 Hurricanes that arrived in January only lasted a week.
*1942/01/29*	*All allied troops have retreated to Singapore.*
*1942/02/15*	*Singapore surrenders to the Japanese*

1942/04/06 - WO 417/41, Casualty List No. 790. Missing

1944/03/24 - WO417/73, Casualty List No. 1402. Previously shown on Casualty List 790. Date of Missing Casualty 15/02/194?. (Previously shown with rank as Gunner). Previously posted Missing now reported Prisoner of War in Japanese Hands.

Japanese PoW

1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore

PoW No. M1699

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

From Adam Road Camp, Singapore

1942/10/24 - Transported overland to Thailand

With:- 80 PoWs from Adam Park Camp

200 Changi

370 Sime Road

Total 650 PoWs

16th Train from Singapore to Thailand

Commander Major P.S.F. Jackson, 7 Coast, R.A.

New PoW No. I 1748

1943 October Railway lines joined at Konkuita, Thailand

New PoW No. I 9653

Died

Age 26

1943/11/02

Cause of Death Cerebral Malaria at 4.45pm

Buried Kanchanaburi Base Hospital, Thailand

Burial Ground No.1 (Paper Mill) Grave No. 222

After the war was moved to Kanchanaburi War Cemetery

1945/10/17 - WO417/98, Casualty List No. 1886. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 1402 as reported Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya. 'M.C. Amendment Casualty List 2020/4 €“ Lance Bombardier' handwritten on original source. Died

1946/03/26 - WO417/102, Casualty List No. 2020. Previously reported Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya. Correction to entry on Casualty List No's. 1886 and 1402. Rank should read Lance Bombardier. Died

Loved Ones

Son of Robert Kelly, and of Margaret Kelly, of Braco, Perthshire.

Memorial