NED KELLY
NED KELLY
December 1854 – 11 November 1880
Kelly’s father John ‘Red’ was born in Ireland who stole pigs and was transported to Van Diemen’s Land, Australia in 1841 as a convict. After his release he moved to Victoria and became lucky due to gold-digging and purchased a home and married Ellen in Ballarat. Kelly grew up in the bush and once saved a boy from drowning and was given a green sash by the boy’s family which he wore under his armour during the final showdown. Red stole cattle and died during his time of hard labour, which left Ellen alone with eight children. The Kelly family were also known for theft which led to Kelly’s bushranger lifestyle and led Australia’s most famous gang. After a series of offences, the police declared them wanted outlaws.
The Siege at Glenrowan started on 27 June 1880, when the gang gathered inside a hotel with 62 hostages from the town. The gang treated the hostages well, providing them with drinks, music and entertainment. Kelly and his gang had bullet-repelling armour and helmets which weighed 44 kilos, but their legs remained exposed. Over the armour they wore grey coats. At 10pm, Kelly and some of his gang left to capture the local Constable and took him back to the hotel. Two trains from Melbourne carrying police and reporters were stopped by a local who told them about the Kelly Gang at the hotel. Some of the hostages were released except for the Constable who was able to escape and warn police.
Police and Aboriginal trackers arrived at the hotel, where the police and gang fired at one another for an hour. The authorities then surrounded the hotel during the night, at 5am the next morning, and fire continued until more police arrived at the scene. The rest of the hostages were released. Kelly then approached the police wearing his iron armour, mask and overcoat, he fired at the police and hid behind trees during the attack. The Sergeant shot Kelly twice in the legs and feet, Kelly screamed out ‘I am done – I am done’. Kelly was carried away and his wounds were dressed, whilst his gang continued firing at the police from the hotel until it later ceased when fire was set to the hotel.
Kelly stood trial and was charged with murder, bank robberies as well as other crimes. He was sentenced to hanging and was permitted to farewell his family members. Kelly was hanged on 11 November 1880 at Old Melbourne Gaol. On his way to his execution, he walked past flower beds which he remarked, ‘what a nice little garden’. Some say his last words was ‘Such is life’ or ‘Ah, well, I suppose it has come to this,’.
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