Corporal A. J. Kempson Skellett, 8th Light Horse Regiment

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Corporal A. J. K. Skellet

Clunes RSL Sub-Branch

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Albert John Kempson Skellett was born in Picton, NSW, in 1888 to Septimus and Mary Evaline Skellett (nee Kempson). He was one of two children with his older sister Daisy born in 1885. After moving to Victoria, Septimus died in 1905 and Mary Evaline and the children moved to Clunes, Victoria where Kempson attended the Clunes State School.

Kempson enlisted for with the Australian Imperial Force on 24th February 1915 at Melbourne, aged 26 years and 9 months. On his enlistment form his occupation was farmer/contractor. He was single, 5 feet 8 1/8 inches tall and weighed 11 st 7 lbs. His religion was listed as Church of England and his next of kin was his mother Mary Evaline Skellett of Clunes, Victoria.

After two months of training Private Skellett sailed from Melbourne aboard the Uganda on 21st June 1915. He joined the 8th Light Horse Regiment at Heliopolis and then landed at Gallipoli on 17th September 1915. According to newspaper reports (Clunes Advertiser and Gazette, 27/04/1917) he was one of 17 soldiers picked by the Commanding Officer to hold trenches while the troops were evacuated from Gallipoli. It was reported that he held a position on his own for 10 ¼ hours.

On returning to Egypt on 26th December 1915, he was promoted to Corporal and continued to serve in the Middle East including at the battles of Rafe, Magdabha and Gaza. During this period he served for one month as a Temporary Sergeant with the Imperial Camel Corps (July 1916). He returned to the 8th Light Horse Regiment at his substantive rank of Corporal in August 1916.

On 19th April 1917, at the Battle of Gaza, Corporal Skellett received a gunshot wound to the chest while rescuing a wounded comrade in the thick of the battle. He later died of these wounds at the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station on 20th April 1917 at the age of 28.

Corporal Skellett was buried at Deir-El-Balah Military Cemetery, Palestine, Plot A, Grave No 58.

The memorial plaque for Corporal Skellett, which is located at St. Paul’s Church of England, Clunes, Victoria, was erected by his mother and sister Daisy. He is also remembered at the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Clunes Cenotaph, Clunes Town Hall Photo List, ANA Branch No 12 Honour Board, and the Clunes State School Roll of Honour.

For his service Corporal Skellett was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

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