From June 1855 to November 1880 was the life of Edward Kelly. The Australian Robin Hood
Ned's Family
John Kelly was caught stealing pigs in Ireland in 1841 and was transported to Australia with his wife Ellen Quinn.
In 1855 Ned was born. Ned had two younger brothers, James and Daniel, and a sister called Kate. The family grew up near Greta north-eastern Victoria.
The Kelly family were tough and rebellious and disliked authority.
Early Life
When Ned was 10 he saved the life of a young boy from drowning. The boy's family gave Ned a sash for his bravery which he later wore under his armour. At the age of 12 Ned's father died and he was left to be the man of house.
The young Kelly boys stole horses to sell. Ned was always loyal to his friends and family.
The Crimes
The first crime committed by Ned was when he was 14 by robbing a Chinese man. When he was 16 Ned received his first gaol sentence because he kept a stolen horse that his brother stole. Afterwards he robbed banks, hotels and rich property owners, not the locals and travellers. He murdered at least three police men. He held hostages in a pub and claimed entire villages.
The Kelly Gang
Within the Kelly gang there was Ned and Daniel Kelly, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart. The Kelly gang hid in bushland and robbed in nearby towns.
The Kelly gang stole £2,000 from the Euroa bank. In Jerilderie the gang held up the police station, hotel and bank where he gave the accountant his Jerilderie letter.
The Jerilderie letter says why he fought the rich and owners and became an outlaw.
The Armour
Ned Kelly and his gang made 4 suites to protect them. These armours consisted of the helmet, back plate, shoulder and breast plate made only using plough parts, leather pieces and iron bolts. These suits were used only in the siege of Glenrowan. There is a dent in Ned's one from the testing when they used a stolen police man's rifle.
The Siege of Glenrowan
For two days in June 1880 the Kelly gang held the town of Glenrowan hostage. The police surrounded the hotel. The siege of Glenrowan went on with heavy gunfire. Eventually Ned was shot in the leg by a policeman and was taken to prison. After the siege the police burned down the pub with Steve Hart and Daniel Kelly inside, they burned to death. Joe Byrne was lucky not to burn to death. In November that year Ned Kelly was hanged at the age of 26 in the Melbourne Gaol.
"Such is Life."
Ned Kelly's last words
