HEROIC IRISHMAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1943, Page 4

HEROIC IRISHMAN

AWARDED VICTORIA CROSS VALIANT DEEDS IN NEW GUINEA MACHINE-GUN POST SILENCED SINGLE-HANDED (By Telegraph—Press Association— uopyngnt) (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. The Victoria Cross has been awarded to Private Richard Kelliher, of Ballybeggan, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, for bravery in New Guinea last September. Kelliher, who came to Australia ten years ago, enlisted in Queensland. The citation announcing the award says: “During the attack on the Japanese position at Nadzab on the morning of August 13, Kelliher’s platoon came under heavy fire from a concealed enemy machine-gun. Several members of the platoon were killed and others wounded, and it was impossible to proceed without further losses. In face of these casualties, Kelliher, on his own initiative, dashed towards the enemy post, hurling grenades into it and killing some of the enemy. Then, returning to his section, he seized a Bren gun and again dashing forward towards the enemy post, with accurate fire completely silenced it. After this Kelliher requested permission to go forward again to rescue his wounded section leader. This he successfully accomplished.” “These actions not only enabled the advance to continue and resulted in the capture of a strong enemy position, but also saved his section leader's life,” says the citation.