British World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born at Moston, near Manchester, he was educated at St. Patrick's School and the Xavererian Brothers College in Manchester, and joined the 10th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) on 5 September 1914, one month after the outbreak of the First World War. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1915 and, the following year, sailed to France, where he took part in the Battle of the Somme. On 4 October 1916 at Le Sars, Lieutenant Kelly twice rallied his company into the heaviest fire and led the only three available men into the enemy's trench, remaining there and causing considerable damage with their bombs until two of his men became casualties and enemy replacements arrived from the rear. He then carried his wounded sergeant major back to the British trenches over a distance of seventy yards, and went on to bring back more wounded. In 1917, he was promoted to captain, and was involved in the Battles of Messines Ridge and Menin Road at Ypres. In 1918, he took part in the Italian campaign, and was awarded the Military Cross for an incident on the night of 21 June 1918, at the Asago Plateau. He had been placed in charge of two companies, and carried out a raid on two trenches. In spite of the bright moonlight, he captured 51 prisoners and two machine guns, as well as killing a large number of the enemy. The following October, at Piave in Italy, he attacked Austrian positions and captured several machine guns, for which he was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross. In 1919, he was promoted to the rank of major. In addition to these medals, he held the Grand Laurelled Cross of San Fernando, awarded by the Spanish Government. Major Kelly died at Prestwich, just north of Manchester. His Victoria Cross is held at the Regimental Museum at Halifax.
British World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born at Moston, near Manchester, he was educated at St. Patrick's School and the Xavererian Brothers College in Manchester, and joined the 10th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) on 5 September 1914, one month after the outbreak of the First World War. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1915 and, the following year, sailed to France, where he took part in the Battle of the Somme. On 4 October 1916 at Le Sars, Lieutenant Kelly twice rallied his company into the heaviest fire and led the only three available men into the enemy's trench, remaining there and causing considerable damage with their bombs until two of his men became casualties and enemy replacements arrived from the rear. He then carried his wounded sergeant major back to the British trenches over a distance of seventy yards, and went on to bring back more wounded. In 1917, he was promoted to captain, and was involved in the Battles of Messines Ridge and Menin Road at Ypres. In 1918, he took part in the Italian campaign, and was awarded the Military Cross for an incident on the night of 21 June 1918, at the Asago Plateau. He had been placed in charge of two companies, and carried out a raid on two trenches. In spite of the bright moonlight, he captured 51 prisoners and two machine guns, as well as killing a large number of the enemy. The following October, at Piave in Italy, he attacked Austrian positions and captured several machine guns, for which he was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross. In 1919, he was promoted to the rank of major. In addition to these medals, he held the Grand Laurelled Cross of San Fernando, awarded by the Spanish Government. Major Kelly died at Prestwich, just north of Manchester. His Victoria Cross is held at the Regimental Museum at Halifax.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Kelly memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
