Kelly brothers of Skares

David Kelly, the son of Richard Kelly and Martha McFarlane enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery at Ayr on 10 Apr 1918. His service record survives and provides much information.

He was a coal miner aged 19 years and 241 days and his next of kin was his mother Mrs Richard Kelly, 140 Skares.

He was 5ft 5 1/2 in and chest 35 1/2 in.

He was invalided out on 18th June 1918 at Newhaven because of shortness of breath and inability to walk far.

It also states "he is sufficiently robust to earn a normal day's wage in the employment he is going to take up".

His older brothers James and William both died within weeks of each other in the 1918 flu epidemic.

David married neighbour Sadie Thorburn in 1925.  In the 1930 valuation roll he is a collier at 128 Skares Row. They lived latterly in Mauchline.

Brother Charles Kelly was in the HLI and also discharged as unfit on the 29th August 1918. He was a spirit salesman, of good character, sober, honest and diligent.

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