Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Major F. V. Hume-Kelly, North Staffordshire Regiment, late Imperial Yeomanry

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. F. V. A. Kelly, Imp. Yeo.); 1914-15 Star (Major F. V. Hume-Kelly, N. Staff. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major F. V. Hume-Kelly), minor contact marks, very fine or better (4) £380-420

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

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Francis Vandeleur Hume-Kelly was born in March 1877 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment in April 1899. Advanced to Lieutenant and Instructor of Musketry in April 1901, he was seconded to the Imperial Yeomanry and served in South Africa from January 1902 (Medal & 2 clasps).

Having relinquished his appointment in the Imperial Yeomanry in April 1903, he was advanced to Captain in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, North Staffordshires and remained employed as an Instructor of Musketry until placed on the Special Reserve in July 1908.

Called up on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Hume-Kelly was advanced to Major in February 1915 and embarked for France that May, in which month he took command of the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. But his tenure of command was short-lived, owing to ongoing trouble with his eyesight. He ended the war in command of a Medical Board Depot at Havre and was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 24 May 1918 and 9 July 1919, refer).

Hume-Kelly remained in the Militia after the war, finally relinquishing his commission in March 1927, when he retained the rank of Major; sold with copied research.

See Lot 587 for related family awards.