KELLY, John Sherwood (1880-1931); Marcoing, France, 20 November 1917 Plot 81

His VC is held at the National Museum of Military History, Johannesburg.  John Sherwood Kelly served during the Second Boer War, Bambatha Rebellion, Gallipoli, Cambral.

Also awarded CMG & DSO. and several campaign medals as well as being mentioned in despatches on 6 occasions. John Sherwood Kelly born 13th January 1880 in Queenstown Cape Province. South Africa He was the 3rd son of 11 children educated at St Andrews College Grahamstown, he joined the Rhodesian Police in 1897 at the age of 17. He joined the Norfolk Regiment as Acting Lieutenant Colonel. In command of the lit Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. It was During World War 1 on the 20th November 1917 in France when John Sherwood-Kelly won his VC. he was aged 37. On 20th November 1917 at Marcoing, France. A party of men were held up on the near side of a canal by heavy rifle fire. Lt Col Kelly ordered covering fire and personally led his leading company across the canal and then reconnoiter, under heavy fire the high ground held by the enemy.  He took a Lewis gun team, forced his way through obstacles and covered the advance of his battalion enabling them to capture the position. Later he led a charge against some pits from which heavy fire was coming capturing 5 machine guns and 46 prisoners.

While commanding the 2nd Hampshire Regiment in North Russia in 1919 he wrote to a friend critiquing the use of British Forces there for this he was court-martialled. He pleaded guilty and was severely reprimanded. Two weeks later he relinquished his commission. He died on 18th August 1931. in a Kensington nursing home following complications from malaria aged 51.