William Stanley Kelly

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

772218

Unit at enlistment:

125th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Woodstock Anglican Cemetery, Woodstock, Ontario

Commemorated at:

St. Luke Anglican Church

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Brant

Birth city:

Brantford, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

274 Marlborough Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

274 Marlborough Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Labourer

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX May 21, 1917

Mrs. Charlotte Kelly, Stanley and Marlborough Streets, today had word that another son, Private William Stanley Kelly; infantry had been wounded and admitted to the second General Hospital at Wimereux on May 8. He was suffering from a gunshot wound in the right arm and head, but just slightly it was stated. Less than a week ago another brother, Private Fred Norman was reported wounded. Private William Kelly went from Brantford with the first overseas battalion of the 38th Dufferin Rifles. He was a single man, 22 years of age, and was formerly a teamster in the employ of W.T. Holder.

BC May 29, 1917

Pte. W.S. Kelly in Hospital

The following letter has been received by Mrs. Charlotte Kelly of this city with reference to the wounding of her son, Private William Stanley Kelly.

Dear Mrs. Kelly,

You have probably already received official information that your son, Pte. W.S. Kelly, 772218 is wounded, but as I am sure you are anxiously waiting for further news of him I am writing to you.

He is in No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station, and is wounded in the head and the right arm, which is broken.

I deeply regret to tell you that his wounds are rather serious but I trust he will soon begin to make good progress. I know how very anxious you will be about him, but it may be some consolation to you to know that he is in a comfortable bed and is in my good hands here. Everything that can possibly be done for him is being down, and you may rest assured that he will not lack for care and attention.

Yours very truly,

F. Jarvis
Church of England Chaplain

BX November 9, 1917

Mrs. William Kelly, of 328 Marlborough Street, who has five sons fighting overseas, has just received an interesting letter from one of them, Private W.S. Kelly, who is now in the 2nd Northern General Hospital, Beckett’s Park, near Leeds, England. He tells of George Rowland who was buried at the same time he was, but Rowland is still in France. After Rowland had been dug out he did not know the writer of the letter, so badly was he cut up about the face. Pte. Kelly encloses a picture which was taken in the hospital ward.

BX May 23, 1918

Mrs. Charlotte Kelly has received word that her son, Pte. William Stanley Kelly has been wounded and is dangerously ill being now in Bolton Park Military Hospital, Grantham. His wounds are a gunshot in the left arm. He was wounded a year ago in the right arm and was in hospital up to a month ago. One brother, David, who was gassed recently, has been sent back to France. Four other brothers in the family are now in France on the firing line.

BX July 19, 1972

KELLY – At Westminster Hospital, London, on Monday, July 17, 1972, William S. Kelly, 321 Huron Street, Woodstock in his 77th year; husband of the former Lillian Gillingwater; father of Norman of Woodstock, Mrs. Charles (Mavis) Stowell of Coquitlam, B.C.; brother of Mrs. Spurgeon (Bertha) Newstead, Brantford; 11 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren also survive. Friends will be received at the M.D. (Mac) Smith Funeral Home, 69 Wellington Street North, Woodstock, where complete service will be held on Thursday July 20 at 2 p.m. Interment in Anglican Cemetery, Woodstock.