Richard Kelliher

He silenced a bunker, then rescued a wounded section leader.

Richard Kelliher was born near Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, on 1 September 1910. He attended technical college and worked as a mechanic before emigrating to Queensland with his sister Norah in 1929. During the Depression he took labouring and farm work and served as sacristan at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane.

He enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 21 February 1941, with service number QX20656. Posted to the 2/25th Infantry Battalion in the Middle East, he performed garrison duties in Syria before returning to Australia in March 1942. Later that year he served in Papua during the fighting towards Gona. A court-martial conviction arising from that campaign was subsequently quashed. Malaria interrupted his service, but he rejoined the battalion in New Guinea in August 1943.

On 13 September, near Heath’s Plantation on the advance from Nadzab towards Lae, Japanese machine-gun fire stopped his platoon. Acting on his own initiative, Kelliher attacked the position with grenades. When some defenders survived, he returned for a Bren gun and silenced the post. He then went forward again under fire and brought his wounded section leader, Corporal William Richards, to safety. His conduct earned the Victoria Cross.

Illness eventually restricted him to duties in Australia, including work with an advanced workshop. His wartime discharge on 20 August 1945 was followed by renewed service with the 1946 Victory Contingent under number QX500601. King George VI presented his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 9 July 1946. He left military service again in September 1946.

Kelliher married Olive Margaret Hearn in 1949 and settled in Melbourne, where he worked as a gardener. They had three children. He attended Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 and the VC centenary celebrations in 1956. Continuing ill health eventually prevented him from working. He died at Heidelberg on 28 January 1963 and was buried with military honours at Springvale Cemetery.

Victoria Cross citation London Gazette, 30 December 1943, page 5649:

During an attack by this soldier’s platoon on an enemy position at Nadzab, New Guinea, on the morning of 13th September, 1943, the platoon came under heavy fire from a concealed enemy machine-gun post approximately 50 yards away. Five of the platoon were killed and three wounded and it was found impossible to advance without further losses. In the face of these casualties Private Kelliher suddenly, on his own initiative, and without orders, dashed towards the post and hurled two grenades at it, killing some of the enemy but not all. Noting this, he then returned to his section, seized a Bren gun, again dashed forward to within 30 yards of the post, and with accurate fire completely silenced it. Returning from his already gallant action Private Kelliher next requested permission to go forward again and rescue his wounded section leader. This he successfully accomplished, though under heavy rifle fire from another position. Private Kelliher, by these actions, acted as an inspiration to everyone in his platoon, and not only enabled the advance to continue but also saved his section leader’s life. His most conspicuous bravery and extreme devotion to duty in the face of heavy enemy fire resulted in the capture of this strong enemy position.