Ned Kelly is one of Australia’s most famous outlaws, known as a bushranger, which is a term for criminals who lived in the Australian bush. Born in June 1855 in Beveridge, Victoria, Ned was the oldest of eight children. His father, John “Red” Kelly, was an Irish convict sent to Australia, and his mother was Ellen Quinn.
Ned’s life of crime began early. In 1869, he was arrested for attacking a Chinese farmer. Two years later, he got into more trouble for riding a stolen horse and fighting with the police, which landed him in prison for three years. However, he was released early in 1874 for good behavior.
In 1878, Ned and his brother Dan went into hiding after Ned was accused of shooting a policeman named Constable Fitzpatrick. There are different stories about whether Ned actually shot Fitzpatrick or if the constable hurt himself. Ned’s mother and others were arrested for helping Ned and Dan.
While on the run, Ned and Dan teamed up with Joe Byrne and Steve Hart to form the Kelly Gang. In October of that year, they killed three policemen during a shootout at a place called Stringybark Creek. This made them outlaws, and the government put a big reward on their heads.
The Kelly Gang became famous for robbing banks in small towns. Some people supported them because they saw Ned as a hero fighting against rich landowners, while others were too scared to turn them in.
To protect themselves, the gang made armor out of metal plow parts. The armor covered their heads and bodies but was very heavy, weighing about 97 pounds (44 kilograms).
In June 1880, the gang tried to stop a police train by damaging the tracks. They took hostages in a hotel, but a schoolteacher named Thomas Curnow warned the train driver, preventing a disaster. The police surrounded the hotel, leading to a big shootout. The gang’s armor protected them at first, but Ned was eventually captured after being shot in the legs, which were unprotected.
Ned Kelly was put on trial and sentenced to death. His last words were reportedly, “Well, I suppose it has come to this.” He was buried in an unmarked grave, and his skull was stolen from a museum in the 1970s and has never been found.
While Ned Kelly used armor to protect himself, today we need to protect our personal information online. ExpressVPN is a tool that helps keep your data safe from online criminals. It encrypts your internet activity, so you can browse safely without being tracked. ExpressVPN is affordable and easy to use, running quietly in the background on your devices.
For more information, you can visit expressvpn.com/simplehistory to get a special offer.
Research and create a timeline of the key events in Ned Kelly’s life. Include his early troubles with the law, the formation of the Kelly Gang, their robberies, and his final stand. Use images and brief descriptions to make your timeline visually engaging.
Imagine you are part of the Kelly Gang. Design your own set of armor using materials you have at home. Consider the weight and practicality of your design. Present your armor to the class and explain your design choices.
Participate in a class debate about whether Ned Kelly should be considered a hero or a villain. Research both sides of the argument and prepare to defend your position using evidence from his life story.
Write a diary entry as if you were Ned Kelly on the night before his final stand. Describe your thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Use historical facts to make your entry authentic and engaging.
Research how modern technology, like VPNs, protects personal information online. Create a poster or digital presentation explaining how these tools work and why they are important, drawing parallels to Ned Kelly’s use of armor for protection.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
This video is sponsored by ExpressVPN.
Ned Kelly, the armored criminal bushranger (1855 to 1880), is Australia’s most famous bushranger. He was born in June 1855 in Beveridge, Victoria, Australia, as the eldest son of eight children to John “Red” Kelly, an Irish convict exiled to Australia, and Ellen Quinn.
In 1869, Kelly had his first brush with the law when he was arrested for assaulting a Chinese farmer and was held in police custody for several days. In 1871, he was arrested for riding a stolen horse and fighting the police, resulting in a three-year prison sentence. At age 16, Kelly was released six months early from Penridge Prison on February 2, 1874, for good behavior.
In April 1878, Ned and his brother Dan Kelly went into hiding from the police after Ned was accused of shooting Constable Fitzpatrick while Dan was being arrested for horse theft. There are differing accounts regarding whether Kelly shot the constable or if the wound was self-inflicted. Ned Kelly’s mother and others were arrested for aiding in the attempted murder of Fitzpatrick.
Now on the run, Ned and Dan Kelly were joined by fellow bushrangers Joe Byrne and Steve Hart, forming the Kelly Gang. In October, the gang killed three policemen during a shootout at Stringybark Creek. One police trooper, Constable McIntyre, escaped on horseback and reported the killings. The Victorian Parliament outlawed the gang, raising the reward for each member to £500, dead or alive.
The gang committed a series of armed bank robberies in rural towns at the end of 1878 and early 1879. During this time, there were sympathizers for the outlaws who kept an eye out for the police. Some supported the gang because Kelly was seen as a man of the people, a poor working-class man against wealthy landowners, while others feared reprisals for revealing the gang’s whereabouts.
To protect themselves, Ned Kelly and his gang constructed armor made from plow moldboards. The padded iron armor featured a headpiece, breast and back plates, and an apron, weighing about 97 pounds (44 kilograms).
In June 1880, after killing a police informant named Aaron Sherritt, the gang attempted to derail a police train by forcing two railway workers to damage the tracks. Dressed in their armor, they took hostages in a hotel. When the police train arrived, it was stopped before it could be derailed, thanks to schoolteacher Thomas Curnow, who had warned the driver earlier. Curnow convinced the sleep-deprived Ned to release him, and Ned did so, telling him to go quietly to bed.
The police surrounded the hotel, and a shootout commenced. During their last stand, the gang’s lack of sleep and alcohol intoxication led to overconfidence in their armor. Three gang members were killed, but Ned fired at the police with his revolver. Although the police bullets bounced off his armor, he was incapacitated when the police shot his legs, which had no protection.
Ned Kelly was put on trial and sentenced to death by hanging. His last words were reported as, “Well, I suppose it has come to this.” He was buried in an unmarked grave, and it is presumed that his remains were disturbed by souvenir hunters in the 1970s. Ned Kelly’s skull was stolen from a museum display and has not been found to this day.
This video was made possible by ExpressVPN. Ned Kelly was a unique criminal in history, but in the digital age, criminals have gone online to steal your private data. Protect yourself better than Ned Kelly’s armor using ExpressVPN.
We use ExpressVPN when working on the Simple History Channel from abroad or in public Wi-Fi cafes. ExpressVPN encrypts your online data, allowing you to use the internet without being tracked or spied on. This means your emails, downloads, and streaming activity stay private. Every time you use the internet without ExpressVPN, you’re putting your sensitive data at risk.
ExpressVPN costs less than seven dollars a month and runs seamlessly in the background of your computer, phone, or tablet. Take back your internet privacy today by getting ExpressVPN for free for three whole months. Go to expressvpn.com/simplehistory or check out the link in the description below for three months free with a one-year package.
—
Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Ned – A nickname for Edward, often associated with Ned Kelly, a famous Australian outlaw. – Ned Kelly is remembered as one of the most notorious figures in Australian history.
Kelly – The surname of Ned Kelly, an infamous Australian bushranger and outlaw. – The Kelly family became well-known due to Ned Kelly’s criminal activities and his stand against the authorities.
Gang – A group of people who work together, often for criminal purposes. – Ned Kelly and his gang were involved in several bank robberies and confrontations with the police.
Armor – Protective clothing made of metal or other materials, used in battle. – Ned Kelly famously wore homemade armor during his final confrontation with the police.
Outlaws – People who have broken the law and are hiding to avoid punishment. – The Kelly gang were considered outlaws by the authorities due to their criminal activities.
Police – The civil force responsible for maintaining public order and enforcing the law. – The police were determined to capture Ned Kelly and his gang after their series of robberies.
Robbery – The crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat. – The Kelly gang’s most famous robbery took place at the Jerilderie Bank.
Trial – A formal examination of evidence in court to determine guilt or innocence. – Ned Kelly’s trial was a significant event in Australian legal history, drawing much public attention.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Learning about Ned Kelly helps students understand the complex history of colonial Australia.
Australia – A country and continent located in the Southern Hemisphere, known for its unique history and culture. – Australia has a rich history that includes stories of indigenous peoples, European settlers, and figures like Ned Kelly.
