Tralee man’s valourisrecalled in exhibition

May 1995

THE outstanding bravery of a Tralee man is being remembered at the World War II Exhibition which will be opened on Friday by An Tanaiste, Dick Spring at the Kerry County Museum in Tralee.

Richard Kelliher from Ballybeggan was awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross for saving the lives of some his fellow Australian Army soldiers during a campaign in Borneo.

In the 1930s, Richard and his sister Nora emigrated to Australia where he worked as a labourer in Brisbane. In 1941 he decided to join the Australian army and in June of that year he was assigned to 2-12th Battalion and went to fight in the Middle East.

After the Syrian Campaign he returned to Australia where he was transferred to the 2-25th Battalion in 1942. Shortly afterwards the Battalion was sent to Borneo to fight against the Japanese. He was awarded his Victoria Cross for his exploits on this tour of duty.

Richard’s nephew, Ray Kelliher, who lives in Ard na Li, Tralee describes how he won the honour:

“It was September 13,1943. The platoon was on a jungle patrol in a place called Nadzab, New Guinea when it came across a clearing. There were two Japanese positions hidden in the bush on the other side of the clearing. They opened fire and killed a few of the Australian soldiers.

“Richard, who was a Private at the time, managed to gain cover but he saw that a Sergeant was injured in the middle of the clearing. He attacked the enemy positions using a machine gun and a couple of grenades. He managed to defeat the Japanese soldiers and rescue the Sergeant,” said Ray.

Richard’s bravery was admired by his superiors and he received a personal invitation to Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953. He carried on fighting until the end of the war. He died on January 28,1963. His uniform jacket is now on display at the exhibition in Kerry County Museum.

The exhibition will be officially opened at noon on this Friday, May 5 by the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dick Spring. The opening will also be attended by members of the Diplomatic Corps as well as veterans of World War II.

The exhibition, which marks the 50th anniversary of the ending of World War Two is divided into sections dealing with the Rise of Hitler, the Campaigns in Europe, Africa and the Pacific, the Holocaust and the Emergency in Ireland.

“The majority of the material will be on view for the first time in Ireland and should attract a lot of interest,” said Kerry Visitor Attractions Manager, John Griffin.

“The army has made its full World War II collection available to us and added to this is a superb range of artefacts on loan from the great military museums of the world,” he said.