20/05/2026
At 32 years old, Corporal John Kelly had already fought across North Africa, Greece and Crete before his life was cut short.
Born in Sydney, Kelly enlisted in October 1939 and served with the 2nd/1st Infantry Battalion. After campaigns in Bardia and Tobruk, he was deployed to Greece as Allied forces attempted to resist the German advance. Vastly outnumbered, the Allies were forced into retreat before evacuating to Crete.
There, at Retimo airfield, Australian troops fought in a savage airborne assault that inflicted devastating losses on German paratroopers. But the cost was high.
Corporal John Kelly was killed in action on 22 May 1941.
On the 85th anniversary of the German invasion of Crete, we remember Kelly and the thousands of Allied troops who fought to defend the island.
Photo: Paybook photograph of NX3877 Corporal John Kelly, 2/1st Battalion. P02466.014
