KELLY, George Francis
NAME KELLY George Francis
RANK Lance Corporal B/58454 1st Canadian Army - 4th Canadian Armoured Division - 10th Infantry Brigade REGIMENT Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) "Scotland forever" Royal Canadian Infantry Corp Residence: St. Catharines - Ontario Birth: August 6, 1920 - Newtown Cross - Township of St. John's - Queens County - Prince Edward Island
Died: April 17, 1945 24 years 8 months
Cemetery: Holten Canadian War Cemetery - Holten - Overijssel - Netherlands
VII E 13 Wife: Mrs. Evelyn Kelly - Halifax Nova Scotia Daughter: Miss Sharon Kelly - Halifax - Nova Scotia Brothers: Michael, Leo, William and Walter live in Newtown Cross - Prince Edward Island Piaus is serving with HMCS Peregrine - Halifax - Nova Scotia Joseph was serving with the Canadian Forces in Holland Phalen was living in London - Ontario
George was born on August 6, 1920 and was living in St. Catharines for 2 years and working as a machine operator with Hayes Steel Company of Merriton - Ontario and they provided material for General Motors.
before he enlisted into the Canadian Army on February 12, 1942 in Hamilton.
Canada
George made the short trip to Hamilton on February 12, 1942 and enlisted into the Canadian Active Service Force. Upon his enlistment he was 5' 11" tall and he weighed 167 pounds. He had a medium complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. On February 16th he was Taken on Strength to No. 2 District Depot in Toronto. He was then posted to No. 20 Canadian Infantry Basic Training Centre in Brantford - Ontario on March 13th. While he was in Brantford he went AWOL between May 8-10 and he forfeits 10 days of pay. Three days later on May 13th he is Taken on Strength with No. 23 Coast Defence + Anti Aircraft Artillery Advance Training Centre in Halifax - Nova Scotia. Approximately a month later on June 10th he is posted to the 4th Anti Aircraft Battery in Halifax with the rank of Gunner. At the end of July he transfers to the 21st Anti Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery in Dartmouth - Nova Scotia. He returns to the 4th Anti Aircraft Battery on October 1st. He was then granted furlough from October 28 - November 10th. At the beginning of December he was promoted to the rank of Lance Bombardier with the 21st Anti Aircraft Regiment in Halifax. While still in Halifax on July 13, 1943 he was posted to the 46th Anti Aircraft Battery in Halifax. Between October 21 - November 8th he is "On Command" for special duty. At the end of 1943 he received furlough from December 30th until January 12, 1944. Near the end of January 1944 he reverts to rank of Gunner at $1.50 per day. On the same day he is posted to No. 1 Transit Camp in Windsor - Nova Scotia. As well he is given permission to marry Evelyn Dora Young in Halifax. On the last day of January Gunner Kelly refused to appear for parade and he is confined to his barracks for 7 days. On February 9th he is married in Halifax. He is transferred on March 3rd to No. 25 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre in Simcoe - Ontario. Three months + later on June 12th he goes to No. 29 Infantry Training Centre No. 3 Company at Camp Ipperwash - Ontario. Between August 9 - 22nd he received furlough and two days before he was to return to base his daughter Sharon was born in Halifax. He received embarkation leave from September 7 - 18th.
United Kingdom
He embarks from Halifax and Canada on October 4 and is Struck off Strength of the Canadian Army in Canada. The next day he is Taken on Strength with the Canadian Army overseas. He disembarks in the United Kingdom on October 11th. Two days later he reports for duty with No. 2 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit.
In the field
Less than a month later on November 3rd he embarks from the United Kingdom and he disembarks on the continent in north-west Europe a day later on November 4th. Three days later on November 7th he is Taken on Strength with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada. Between February 4 - March 4, 1945 he attended Signals Training School. Shortly after this he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. The 4th Armoured Division had earlier made an assault over the Ems River at Meppen and very quickly they
overran the town.
On April 14th there was a push to Friesoyth between Mappen and Oldenburg and the Argylls flanked the
town from the east. The only place to cross was at Edewechterdamn a hamlet surrounded by marshes and
ditches 11 miles south of Oldenburg. The Algonquins had established a bridgehead under substantial
German shelling and mortar fire and to this point the engineers had been unable to build a bridge over the
canal.
The weather on the morning of April 17th was hot and sunny. The Argylls were to cross the Kusten Canal
and hold the left flank of the bridgehead, exclusive of the main road and as far north as the railway track.
One platoon of “A” Company was to clear buildings on the near side of the canal at the crossing site. The
remainder of “A” Company would then cross and take over from the Algonquins on the left of the road.
“D” Company would then pass through “A” company and clear out the western area. “A” company would
then send a platoon forward to take the trench and railway junction. “D” Company was to do the same and
advance to the trench and rail junction. All companies were to occupy and at last light “B” Company was to
move forward and take over from “A” Company who would then shift to the left. At 09:30 hours “A & D” Companies crossed the Kusten Canal and dug in with “A” on the immediate left of the road and “D” 1,000 yards further out to the left with no one advancing more than 100 yards as the terrain beyond that point was wide, flat and very open. The Germans shelled and dropped mortar fire and brought up a self - propelled gun and this put the bridgehead in danger. The bridgehead was 1,500 yards wide and 400 yards deep. The canal was 100 feet wide. At 10:00 hours the German counter attacked and during this attack were supported by self propelled guns and artillery and this action forced the Algonquins to retreat, which left the Argylls “A” Company on their own. They dug in and held their ground without any support. With the help of artillery and air support the bridgehead was held and it was during this fighting that Lance Corporal Kelly lost his life. He was originally buried at Edemechterdamm - Germany.
George was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the France-Germany Star, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. His wife Evelyn received the Memorial Cross. George is honoured and remembered on the Goderich - Ontario Cenotaph. We have yet to understand why his name appears on this Cenotaph because his past and his military records do not show any affiliation to Goderich and Huron County. He is also honoured and remembered on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial. He is likely honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaque of St Michael's Roman Catholic Parish Church. He is honoured and remembered on the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada Memorial located in Bayfront Park - Hamilton - Ontario.
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