Pair: Captain G. H. Hume-Kelly, North Staffordshire Regiment, who was killed in action in October 1914

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg (Lieut. G. H. Hume-Kelly, N. Staff. Rgt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. G. H. Hume-Kelly, N. Staff. Rgt.), very fine or better (2) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the North Staffordshire Regiment.

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George Harvey Hume-Kelly was born in November 1879, the youngest son of Major and Mrs. Hume-Kelly of Glencara, Mullingar, Ireland. He was educated at Clifton College and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the North Staffordshire Regiment direct from the Militia in May 1899.

Subsequently embarked for South Africa in the 2nd Battalion, where he served in the 8th Mounted Infantry, he was present in the operations in the Orange Free State February-May 1900, including the actions at Paardeberg and Driefontein; in the operations in the Transvaal May 1900 to November 1901, including the actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria; and in further operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony up until May 1902 (Queen’s Medal & 4 clasps; King’s Medal & 2 clasps).

Advanced to Captain in February 1906, Hume-Kelly was appointed Adjutant on the Special Reserve in August 1908 but was embarked for France in the 1st Battalion in September 1914.

He was killed in action on 20 October 1914, aged 34 years, when in command of his company repulsing an attack on our trenches near Armentieres; he exposed himself endeavouring to control useless firing in one of our trenches, and was shot through the head before he could get back to his observation post; sold with copied research, including a group photograph of the officers of the 1st Battalion just before their embarkation for France in 1914, Hume-Kelly among them.

See Lot 589 for related family awards.

Please note that this lot is incorrectly shown in the printed catalogue with the description of lot 578.