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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 297

(x) Five: Private M. Kelly, East Lancashire Regiment

India 1895-1908, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (3140 Pte M. Kelly 1st Bn E. Lanc. Regt.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Paardeberg, Johnnesberg, Transvaal (3140 Pte M. Kelly, E. Lanc: Regt); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3140 Pte M Kelly, E. Lanc: Regt.); Army L.S & G.C., G.V.R. (3140 Pte M. Kelly. E. Lanc: Regt.); Army Temperance Association Award of Merit, R.A.T.A. (Pte. J. Kelly, 1st East Lancashire Regt., 1911), mounted as worn, traces of lacquer, contact marks and wear overall, nearly very fine (6)

Martin Kelly was born at Dublin in 1872, the son of Joseph Kelly of 18 Cochraine Street, Dublin. He served with the 4th (Militia) Battalion, Dublin Fusiliers from February 1890 with the number B. 2119 he then enlisted with the East Lancashire Regiment on 12 February 1891. Posted first to India on 26 November 1892 he was still serving here during the expedition to relieve Chitral in 1895, serving further until 28 February 1896 he then moved to Burma. Returning to Britain after over five years in the East on 18 December 1897 he was married the next year on 1 November 1898 to Annie West. Posted again on 12 January 1900 when 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment formed part of the reinforcement sent to South Africa during the Second Boer War. Here they served during the Guerrilla phase of the conflict, seeing actions at Karee Siding and Zand River. Posted back to Britain on 25 November 1902, a possible clue to his role in South Africa may be found in his attainment of a Mounted Infantry certificate on 2 October 1903. Kelly went on to serve with the regiment for some years, just prior to his discharge the Lieutenant Colonel commanding his Battalion wrote to the War Office and requested that he be placed on the registration roll of men for employment as Pensioner Messenger at the War Office. He was discharged having provided notice on 30 April 1913 at Colchester, his discharge papers note his previous service included time as a Groom and an Officer's Servant and that he had been in the RATA for six years; sold together with copied service records and the Medal Yearbook listing for the Army Temperance Association Award of Merit.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£350

Starting price
£190