John Sherwood-Kelly

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

SHERWOOD-KELLY, John. ( reg No. 673).

Lieutenant Colonel. Norfolk Regiment* London Gazetted on 11th January 1918.

VC Medal's Custodian is The National Museum of Military History, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Born on 13th January 1880 at Queenstown, Cape Province, South Africa.

Died on 18th August 1931 at Kensington, London.

Memorial on grave at Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, Surrey.

Digest of Citation reads: Major Sherwood-Kelly was leading a party of men, of another unit, on 20th November 1917, at Marcoing, France, to cover the passage of his battalion. When they were held up by heavy rifle fire directed at the bridge over the canal. He, at once, ordered covering fire and led the foremost company, of his battalion, across the canal. On reaching there, he proceeded to reconnoitre, all the time under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire. His battalion's left flank was held up by a strongly barbed-wired entanglement. Crossing over to them, and with a Lewis gun, he managed to force his way through the obstacles, getting the gun into position on the opposite side, thus enabling his company to pass through the barbed wire and capture the position. On a later occasion, he led charges against gun pits that were aiming rifle and machine-gun fire at his men. He captured the pits, five machine guns and took 46 prisoners, apart from killing a large number of the enemy.

* Whilst commanding 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

Additional information:. Lieutenant Colonel Sherwood-Kelly was a Companion of St Michael and St George (CMG). He also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). From 1899 to 1902 he saw service in the Boer War. In 1919 he went with the Expeditionary Force to Russia.