Phillip John Kelly (SN 1454) born in Ballarat, was a 21 year old tinsmith when he enlisted in Ballarat on August 10th 1915. On November 10th he embarked aboard the Ascanius and in June 1916 he reached France to serve with the 29th Infantry Battalion. In September he was transferred to the 8th Light Trench Mortar Brigade and in November he suffered a serious gunshot wound to his buttock and was evacuated to England. He was unable to rejoin his unit until January 1918. He then saw out the remainder of the war without major incident and returned to Australia aboard the Demosthenes, disembarked on March 2nd 1919 and was discharged on May 29th.

His brother Sidney also served in the AIF and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.