Henry Kelly (VC)

Infobox Military Person
name = Henry Kelly
lived = 10 July 1887 - 18 January 1960
placeofbirth = Moston, Manchester
placeofdeath = Prestwich, Manchester


caption =
nickname =
allegiance = flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
serviceyears =
rank = Major
branch =
commands = 10th Bn, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment
current position=
battles =World War 1
Spanish Civil War
awards =Victoria Cross
Military Cross and Bar
Medaille Militaire
Croix de Guerre
Grand Laurelled Cross of San Fernando
laterwork =

Henry Kelly VC, MC & Bar (born Moston, Manchester, 10 July 1887—18 July 1960) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 29 years old, and a Temporary Second Lieutenant in the 10th Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment during the First World War when he was awarded the VC.

On 4 October 1916 at Le Sars, France, Kelly twice rallied his company under the heaviest fire and eventually led the only three available men of his company into the enemy's trench, remaining there bombing, until two of his men became casualties and enemy reinforcements 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. He also received a Military Cross and bar among his other awards.

After the war, Kelly moved to Ireland after the war and became chief of staff for overseas operations in the Free State Army.

He later achieved the rank of Major. In 1936, he went to fight in the Spanish Civil War.

Medal Location

His Victoria Cross is displayed in the Duke of Wellington's Regimental Museum See:- [http://www.dwr.org.uk/dwr.php?id=54&pa=97] "(Halifax, West Yorkshire, England)".

References

*Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*VCs of the First World War - The Somme (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/manchest.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Manchester)"
*findagrave|10704970