Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Colonel J. P Kellett, D.S.O and Bar, London Regiment, later Wiltshire Regiment, who commanded the 1st/2nd Battalion, London Regiment during the Great War, and was four times Mentioned in Despatches

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. J. P. Kellett. 2/Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. J. P. Kellett) the Star gilded, with traces of lacquer to all, edge bruise to last, otherwise good very fine (4) £800-£1,200

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1918.

D.S.O. Second Award Bar London Gazette 1 February 1919:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and able leading of his battalion on 27th September, 1918, at the crossing of the Canal du Nord during the attack near Oisy-le-Verger. The villages and enclosed ground were occupied by a large number of machine-gun posts, which threatened to hold up a rather thin attack; By quick and skilful manoeuvring he reduced the centres of resistance one after the other, capturing a number of prisoners well in excess of his own losses.’

M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1916.

John Philip Kellett was born on 28 July 1890 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd (City of London) Battalion, the London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) on 29 August 1914. He commanded the Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 May to 16 August 1917 and again from January 1918 until the cessation of hostilities. Twice wounded, for his services during the Great War he was four times Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes, 24 December 1917, 25 May 1918, 30 December 1918, and 10 July 1919), and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order with Second Award Bar, and the Military Cross.

Kellett remained in the army after the War and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel with the Wiltshire Regiment in August 1939. He retired in 1943 with the honorary rank of Colonel.