Kelly's in uniform / The British Army - Capt C O'Kelly

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 Captain Christopher Patrick John O'Kelly 

Victoria Cross - First World War, 1914-1918

Capt. Christopher Patrick John O’Kelly

Christopher Patrick John O’Kelly was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 18 November 1895. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in 1915, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. While serving with the 52nd Infantry Battalion, CEF, O’Kelly received the Military Cross.

On 26 October 1917, Acting Captain O’Kelly led his company of the 52nd Battalion against German positions on Bellevue Spur, a network of defenses near Passchendaele in Belgium. Previously, other units had tried to attack this feature, but had been unsuccessful while suffering considerable losses. O’Kelly and his men advanced about one kilometer into the enemy positions, and captured six “pillbox” fortifications, ten machine guns and 100 prisoners. They then dug in and held their position against repeated German counterattacks until they were relieved. Later that day, O’Kelly and his company fought off another strong enemy counterattack, taking more prisoners in the process. Alert to German activity that night, they captured a raiding party of 11 soldiers. For his exemplary leadership throughout that day, Acting Captain O’Kelly was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 15 November 1922, O’Kelly was drowned during a storm on Lac Seul, near Kenora, Ontario. His body was never found.

Citation

“For most conspicuous bravery in an action in which he led his company with extraordinary skill and determination.

After the original attack had failed and two companies of his unit had launched a new attack, Capt. O’Kelly advanced his command over 1,000 yards under heavy fire without any artillery barrage, took the enemy positions on the crest of the hill by storm, and then personally organised and led a series of attacks against ‘Pill-boxes,’ his company alone capturing six of them with 100 prisoners and 10 machine guns.

Later on in the afternoon, under the leadership of this gallant officer, his company repelled a strong counter-attack, taking more prisoners, and subsequently during the night captured a hostile raiding party consisting of one officer, 10 men and a machine gun.

The whole of these achievements were chiefly due to the magnificent courage, daring and ability of Capt. O’Kelly.”

(London Gazette, no.30471, 11 January 1918)

The 52nd (New Ontario) Battalion, CEF was raised in Northern Ontario during the Spring of 1915 with its mobilization headquarters at Port Arthur (Thunder Bay), Ontario. The Battalion joined the 9th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division on February 23, 1916 and thus began the trial by fire for the men of the north in the trenches of France and Belgium.

After the war, the men returned home and the 52nd was disbanded in the early 1920s with its Regimental Colours laid-up in St. John The Evangelist Anglican Church.

 Oct ’12