Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 7 clasps, Busaco, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, St. Sebastian, Orthes, Toulouse (Fras. Kelly, 27th Foot.) hairlines and very minor edge bruise, otherwise nearly extremely fine £2600-3000

Only 28 clasps for ‘St Sebatian’ to the 27th Foot.

Francis Kelly was born in the Parish of Rosseneure, County Rosscommon, and enlisted into the 27th Foot in May 1808, a labourer by trade. He served with the 3rd Battalion in the Peninsula until 1814, when the battalion was sent to Canada. He was discharged in Canada at Chambly on 24 May 1815, aged 34, having completed his first period of service, and in consequence of having ‘lost the sight of his right eye and impaired vision of the left from wounds in the head at the battle of the Pyrenees and diseased testicle. Strongly recommended to the Commissioners of the Board by the Earl of Dalhousie having been a Volunteer in the Storm of St Sebastian and one of only three survivors on that occasion.’

A letter from Lord Dalhousie, dated Headquarters, Quebec, 31st October 1821, states:

‘The Right Honourable,
The Secretary of War.

My Lord,

I have the honour herewith to transmit a report upon the causes of five invalid soldiers discharged from corps lately serving in Canada who solicit that their respective claims to pension on account of length of service &c may be laid before the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital and I am induced to recommend to their most favourable consideration that of Francis Kelly, late of the 27th Foot, who appears to have served during the whole of the Peninsula War with distinguished bravery, the circumstance of his having been a Volunteer in the Storm of St Sebastian and being one of only three survivors on that occasion appears to deserve particular notice. As he is now nearly blind from the effect of wounds on his head, and utterly incapable of gaining a livelihood I trust that the Commissioners will extend to him the most liberal Relief consistent with the existing Regulations in regard to pension.

Signed,

Dalhousie
Comr. of the Forces’

Kelly appears to have remained in Canada after his discharge and, at the time of claiming his medal, was living at Drummondsville, Canada East, a small town founded in June 1815 by Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Heriot to provide homes for British soldiers who had served in the War of 1812. Francis Kelly died there on 31 December 1848.

Sold with copied discharge papers, including Lord Dalhousie’s recommendation, and C.D. Rom with other detailed research.