(1854-1880) Infamous Irish-Austrailian bushranger-cum-bank-robber who performed some of the most daring raids in history. He fought the establishment for a republic of Victoria. The last attack he made on the establishment was an attempt to derail a train carrying over 200 police officers. Throughout his time as an outlaw he had become a
people's champion. He was a modern-day Robin Hood, and his popularity was such that he thought no-one would betray him.
After decades of great loyalty from the poor, he was betrayed on his greatest mission yet. The train stopped before it could be derailed, and police rushed to the hotel he was staying at. He and three other members of the "Kelly Gang" had made primitive body armour from plough metal. This did little to save his friends, who were shot in armour gaps, such as the crotch (ouch!).
Kelly
waded to the forest where he was crossed by 34 armed police. He took them all on in a gunfight, and bullets pierced his armour 27 times. He eventually fell from a loss of blood, and was nursed back to health before his execution. On the
scaffold he said "
such is life", as the noose was tied.
He is best remembered for being an outlaw, a
hardman and being the early pioneer of
bullet-proof body armour.
