Frederick Septimus KELLY

KELLY, Frederick Septimus

Service Number: Officer
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Last Unit: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Born: Sydney, NSW, 29 May 1881
Home Town: Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling: Sydney Grammar School, Eton College, Balliol College Oxford
Occupation: Musician
Died: Killed in Action, France, 13 November 1916, aged 35 years
Cemetery: Martinsart British Cemetery
I H 25
Memorials: Sydney St. James Anglican Church 'KELLY' Memorial Plaque
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World War 1 Service

Date unknown: Involvement British Forces (All Conflicts), Lieutenant Commander, Officer, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Thomas Hussey KELLY and Mary Anne nee DICK

In September 1914 Kelly joined the Royal Naval Division and was soon involved in the unsuccessful defence of Antwerp, Belgium. Early next year he sailed for the Dardanelles with the Hood Battalion with such scholar-soldiers as Rupert Brooke, Arthur Asquith and Patrick Shaw-Stewart; they were known on the ship as the 'Latin Club'. He landed on Gallipoli in April. While recovering from wounds he wrote the poignant Elegy for string orchestra, in memory of Brooke whose burial on Skyros he had attended. Promoted lieutenant in June, Kelly returned to Gallipoli in July and was among the last to leave. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for 'conspicuous gallantry' there. In May 1916 he went with the Hood Battalion to France, in command of 'B' Company. His strict standards of discipline 'were not generally palatable', but his 'unfailing fearlessness and scrupulous justice', and activities as director of the regimental band, won him enormous respect. He was killed on 13 November 1916 while leading an attack on a machine-gun emplacement at Beaucourt-sur-Ancre.

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