The Soldier's Details

 

Bob Kelt enlisted AIF 30 Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s Headquarters Company, No. 3 Platoon under Quartermaster Capt  Phelps as a bricklayer!

As a POW in Singapore Kelt was selected to work on the Burma-Thai Railway in Thailand with ‘D’ Force V Battalion under the leadership of Alf Cough.  This work force endured horrific living and working conditions resulting in an extraordinary high death rate.

‘Robert James Kelt was one of the few survivors from Major Cough’s V Battalion but tragically passed away at Non Paduck Camp 19 January 1944.  He was 36 years old.’  

Please read about ‘D’ Force Thailand V Battalion

 

Ray Kelt recalls the last time he saw his father, Robert James Kelt.

 

‘When the war broke out we were living in Palmyra. Dad was trying to earn a quid as a house painter but was battling a bit as things were very tough in those days and eventually he joined the A.I.F. Mum and I left Palmyra and moved into the Town Hall apartments. We only had one room where we slept, cooked our meals and dined. I can remember looking out the window across St John’s Church and watching the trams go past and listening to the Salvation Army play outside Nicholson’s music store. The last time I saw my dad was outside the entrance of our apartment building in High Street. He said to me:

“Dad’s got a job to do, now you’re in charge so look after your mother until I return.”  He then marched down High Street turned and waved, then disappeared down towards the Round House at the end of the street. I was 12 years old, my mum died at 95 years of age. We were always close and good mates through all ‘the years ’.

Robert James Kelt was one of the few survivors from Major Alf Cough’s ‘D’ Force V Battalion but passed away at Non Pladuk camp on 19th January 1944. This war had claimed one more man from the A.I.F. and created yet another widow and fatherless child.

 Please read the story

 

From West Australian Newspaper Deaths, 22nd September 1946

KELT, Robert James  (2/4th Machine Gun Batt) died while Prisoner of War Thailand, January 19th 1944; loved brother-in-law of Emma and Laurie Sayers (Fremantle) and fond uncle of Ken (AIF. NG). 

We have only a beautiful memory

To remember our life through

And its sweetness will linger forever

As we treasure the memory of you

 

 

 

 

Photograph taken Kanchanburi War Cemetery January 2018.      C. Mellor

 

On 15 Aug 1922 Bob’s father James Kelt died at 1 Charlotte Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland Scotland aged 63 years.   Bob’s parents James Kelt and Helen Mary Phillip married 19 Jul 1905 Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.

Bob was 18 years old when he sailed to Western Australia from London on 10 April 1926 on ‘Demosthenes’.

His mother Helen died 12 Jun 1950 at Edinburgh, Scotland – sadly her son Bob would predecease her when he died of beri beri in 1944 on the Burma-Thai Railway, Thailand.

Robert Kelt married about 1929 Fremantle to Dorothy Elizabeth Hanham. They had one son Ray.

Dorothy’s parents George Doonan and Emma Hanham.

Below:  Dorothy’s mother died in 1922

 

Below:  Dorothy’s father died in 1936.

 

 

In the 1931 Electoral Roll the couple were living in Holdsworth Street, Fremantle. Bob was a house painter.  In 1936 they were residing in Zenobia St, East Fremantle.

Prior to enlisting Bob was residing Town Hall Chambers, Fremantle.  Working as a Painter.

Below:  Bob’s son Ray announces his engagement 1950 to Gwendolene Burnett.

Above:  Son Ray, his wife Gwen and then granddaughter Jenny 1953

Dorothy Kelt died at North Fremantle in 1999 aged 95 years.

Ray Kelt died in 2022