Henry Kelly
Temporary Lieutenant (later Major), 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment. (West Riding)
- Register No.
- 672 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Temporary Lieutenant (later Major) (register: Temp. Second Lieutenant) all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment. (West Riding) (register: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)) all Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) VCs →
- Date of action
- 4 October 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 25th October 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Born
- 10th July 1887 at Moston, Manchester, Lancashire
- Died
- 18th January 1960 at Prestwich, Lancashire
Digest of citation
On 4 October 1916 at Le Sars, France, Second Lieutenant Kelly twice rallied his company under the heaviest fire and eventually led the only three available men of h9is company into the enemy's trench, remaining there bombing, until two of his men became casualties and enemy replacements arrived from the rear. He then carried his wounded company sergeant-major back to our trenches, a distance of 70 yards, and subsequently brought in more wounded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
KELLY, Henry (Reg.No.672)
Temporary Lieutenant (later Major) 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment. (West Riding)
London Gazetted on 25th October 1916 Born on 10th July 1887 at Moston, Manchester, Lancashire.
Died on 18th January 1960 at Prestwich, Lancashire. No recorded Memorial.
Digest of Citation reads: On 4 October 1916 at Le Sars, France, Second Lieutenant Kelly twice rallied his company under the heaviest fire and eventually led the only three available men of h9is company into the enemy's trench, remaining there bombing, until two of his men became casualties and enemy replacements arrived from the rear. He then carried his wounded company sergeant-major back to our trenches, a distance of 70 yards, and subsequently brought in more wounded.
Additional information: He was the son of Charles Kelly from Dublin, and his wife, Jane,(née McGarry) of Manchester. He was educated at St. Patrick's School and Xavarerian Brothers' College, both in Manchester. On the 5th September 1914 he joined the Army. His promotions were on the following dates, 12th May 1915 to Temporary 2nd Lieutenant; 11th September 1916 to Temporary Lieutenant; 21st September 1917 to Temporary Captain and 19th July 1919 to Temporary Major. He sailed for France in May 1916 and he served there in the European War (WW1) and also in Belgium and Italy. He was involved in the battles of the Somme 1916, Ypres, ( Messines Ridge 7th June 1917 and Menin Road on 20th September 1917.) On the 15th June 1918 he was in Italy at the Asago Plateau and the following October 27th at Piave. .He was also awarded The Military Cross ,London Gazetted 24th September 1918,whilst in charge of two companies, carried out a raid on the night of 21/22nd of June 1918 on enemy trenches, and in bright moonlight, captured 51 prisoners and two machine-guns.also killing a large number of the enemy. The following October at the Piave he attacked Austrian positions and captured several machine-guns and showed great quality of leadership. For this he was awarded a Bar to his MC. He also held the Grand laurelled Cross of San Fernando. (Spain)
Additional information
He was the son of Charles Kelly from Dublin, and his wife, Jane,(née McGarry) of Manchester. He was educated at St. Patrick's School and Xavarerian Brothers' College, both in Manchester. On the 5th September 1914 he joined the Army. His promotions were on the following dates, 12th May 1915 to Temporary 2nd Lieutenant; 11th September 1916 to Temporary Lieutenant; 21st September 1917 to Temporary Captain and 19th July 1919 to Temporary Major. He sailed for France in May 1916 and he served there in the European War (WW1) and also in Belgium and Italy. He was involved in the battles of the Somme 1916, Ypres, ( Messines Ridge 7th June 1917 and Menin Road on 20th September 1917.) On the 15th June 1918 he was in Italy at the Asago Plateau and the following October 27th at Piave. He was also awarded The Military Cross ,London Gazetted 24th September 1918,whilst in charge of two companies, carried out a raid on the night of 21/22nd of June 1918 on enemy trenches, and in bright moonlight, captured 51 prisoners and two machine-guns.also killing a large number of the enemy. The following October at the Piave he attacked Austrian positions and captured several machine-guns and showed great quality of leadership. For this he was awarded a Bar to his MC. He also held the Grand laurelled Cross of San Fernando. (Spain)
No recorded Memorial.
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