Orders, Decorations and Medals

Family group to two brothers:

Seven: Acting Warrant Officer Samuel Kelly, 2nd Battalion, Royal Highlanders, who was awarded a Wauchope Medal for gallantry in the Battle Beyond Bagdad on 14 March 1917

1914 Star, with clasp (2037 L. Cpl., 2/R. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf, this drilled in four places to facilitate sewing to ribbon; Defence Medal 1939-45; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Samuel Kelly); Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R. (Samuel Kelly); Wauchope Medal, for The Battle Beyond Bagdad, reverse inscribed ‘Sgt. S. Kelly, for conspicuous gallantry in the Battle Beyond Bagdad, March 14, 1917, Presented by Colonel A. G. Wauchope’; together with Old Contemptibles Association badge

Pair: Private W. M. Kelly, 2nd Battalion, Royal Highlanders, who died of wounds on 15 March 1915

British War and Victory Medals (1943 Pte., R. Highrs.) the Wauchope Medal extensively pitted, probably as a result of fire damage, therefore fine, otherwise generally good very fine and better (9) £800-1000

M.I.D. London Gazette 12 March 1918 (for distinguished and gallant services in Mesopotamia).

I.S.M. London Gazette 13 september 1957 (Postman, Dundee).

Samuel Kelly was born in Dundee on 1 July 1892. A pre war Regular with the 2nd Battalion, Black Watch, on the outbreak of hostilities he was stationed in India. He landed in France with his battalion on 12 October 1914 at which time he held the rank of Lance Corporal. His name appears in the list of wounded in both May and June 1915 and it is likely that his wound was received in his battalion’s action at Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915.

Kelly went to Mesopotamia with the rest of his battalion in December 1915, where he saw out the rest of his active service, being awarded a Wauchope Medal for gallantry at the Battle of Mushaidie on 14 March 1917. The medal was presented to him at Moascar Camp, Egypt on 21 January 1918. He is noted by name in the Regimental History as being one of just 52 officers and other ranks of the battalion who served from 4 August 1914 through to the time of the Armistice. Samuel Kelly died on 27 September 1968 at Monifieth, Scotland.

Private (Drummer) William Mathieson Kelly was born and enlisted in Dundee. He died of wounds in France and Flanders on 15 March 1915 whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Black Watch and is buried at Chocques Military Cemetery, France. Like his brother he was entitled to the 1914 Star with clasp.

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