[mark_2000]

Edward "Ned" Kelly (December 1854[1] – 11 November 1880) was an Australian Bushranger, outlaw, gang leader and convicted police murderer. Recognised as the last and most famous of the bushrangers, he is best-known for wearing a self-made suit of bulletproof armour during his final shootout with the police

A violent confrontation with a policeman occurred at the Kelly family's home in 1878, and Kelly was indicted for his attempted murder. Fleeing to the bush, Kelly vowed to avenge his mother, who was imprisoned for her role in the incident. After he, his brother Dan, and two associates—Joe Byrne and Steve Hart—fatally shot three policemen, the Victorian Government proclaimed the outlaws.

The Final Stand

The gang descended on Glenrowan about 8*am on Sunday 27 June 1880 and took over the township without meeting resistance from the locals:

By Sunday evening, the gang gathered their captives at the hotel, a total of 62 by Reardon's count.The gang insisted that drinks be provided to the townspeople and that music be played.

The gang members were equipped with bullet-repelling armour, complete with helmets. The legs, however, remained exposed. They made these suits with the intention of further robbing banks, as the gang was short of money

Two special trains had been dispatched from Melbourne carrying police reinforcements, native police and reporters following the killing of Sherritt.

Shortly after Bracken came rushing up and said, "The Kellys are all at Jones's. Be quick, and surround the house, or they will be off.

The police and the gang fired at each other for about a quarter of an hour. Then there was a lull but nothing could be seen for a minute or two because of the smoke.

In the early morning light, Kelly then attacked the police from the rear, dressed in a long white overcoat and wearing an iron mask. He was armed only with a revolver. He moved coolly from tree to tree, returning fire. Sergeant Steele, Senior-constable Kelly and a railway guard named Dowsett charged him. The latter was only armed with a revolver. They fired at him with no effect. Sergeant Steele realised that Kelly's legs were unprotected and brought him down with two shots, with Kelly crying, "I am done—I am done." Kelly howled and swore at the police. Steele seized him, but Kelly fired again, blowing Steele's helmet off. Kelly gradually became quiet, shot in the left foot, left leg, right hand, left arm and twice in the region of the groin. But no bullet had penetrated his armour.
In the meantime the siege continued. The female hostages confirmed that the three other outlaws were still in the house. Byrne had been shot dead while drinking whisky at the bar about half-past 5*am. The remaining two kept shooting from the rear of the building during the morning, exposing themselves to the bullets of the police. Their armour protected them.

At 2:50*pm a final volley was fired into the hotel, and under cover of the fire, Senior-constable Charles Johnson, of Violet Town, placed a bundle of burning straw at the hotel's west side. As the fire took hold, the police began to close in on the building. Father Gibney, vicar-general of Western Australia, entered the burning structure. He discovered the bodies of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart. He stated that based on their position, they must have killed one another.

The body of Joe Byrne was strung up in Benalla as a curiosity. Byrne's friends asked for the body but it was instead secretly interred at night by police in an unmarked grave.

The charred remains of Dan Kelly and Hart were taken to Mrs Skillion's place at Greta. They were then placed into very expensive coffins, the lid of one was lettered "Daniel Kelly, died 28th June 1880, aged 19 years" and the other "Stephen Hart, died 28th June 1880, aged 21 years."They were buried in unmarked graves by their families in Greta Cemetery 30*km (19*mi) east of Benalla.

Kelly was to be hanged on 11 November 1880 at the Melbourne Gaol.

Some newspaper reporters wrote that his last words were "Such is life", while other newspapers recorded that this was his response when the warden told him of the intended hour of his execution, earlier that day. The Argus wrote that Kelly's last words were, "Ah, well, I suppose it has come to this", as the rope was placed round his neck

[-NocturnalPulse-]

Cool post. I've read all about this guy, who seems to be a folk hero to a lot of people in Australia

[Vedderman]

Cool stuff. Moving this thread to the Vintage section so it is appreciated there in context and isn't immediately buried under the high traffic that the regular Death section receives.

[gboy69]

the charred body of my great, great uncle (most likely)

then again, he wasn't that great - he was just a criminal

[William May]

I like how the armor has the bullet impacts still in it.......that's REALLY interesting. Did they make it themselves? or did they find someone to make it for them and fit it to them?

[gboy69]

Originally Posted by William May ↗

I like how the armor has the bullet impacts still in it.......that's REALLY interesting. Did they make it themselves? or did they find someone to make it for them and fit it to them?

not sure - it says up the top "self made", but in reality, they had enough friends through the communities who could have helped them make it


they all had some armour, but only ned was strong enough to be able to carry the weight of it

[Jere]

the suit he made,fuckin' genius and also he looks stoned...

[stfmg]

1st pic:Fucking swaggy hipster

[K53]

Powerful photo journalism

[koipin]

Didn't he have a big cock?