Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Belfast Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, obverse: coat-of-arms; reverse inscription in raised letter (name and year engraved), ‘To Head Constable John Kelly, Belturbet 1873, for Humanity to Animals’, 35mm., silver, with scroll suspension, minor edge bruising, good very fine £150-200

John Kelly joined the Constabulary of Ireland in 1843, was promoted to Acting Constable in 1853 and Head Constable in 1871, then serving at Cavan. He retired on 1 August 1879. In 1853 he was seconded to the Mounted Staff Corps, served in the Crimea and was awarded the Queen’s Medal with clasp for Sebastopol.