North Irish Horse - Gallery - In memoriam

In memoriam

Private Adam Gordon Kelly

Adam Gordon Kelly was born on 15 May 1890 at Armaghbrague, near Keady, County Armagh, the seventh of twelve children of farmer Adam Kelly and his wife Cecilia Maria (nee Matchett). By 1911 he was living on the family farm and working as a farm labourer.

Kelly enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Newtown between 4 and 10 March 1914 (No.923 – later Corps of Hussars No.71162). He embarked for France on 20 January 1915 with a reinforcement draft, and was posted to A Squadron. He remained with the squadron throughout the war.

In May 1916 A Squadron joined with D and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and re-formed as V Corps' cyclist regiment.

Kelly saw action with the regiment during the Advance to Victory offensive from 21 August 1918. He was killed in action on 26 August during the 21st Division's advance on the Ligny-Thilloy-Sars Road, and was buried near where he fell, south of the Butte de Warlencourt (map reference 57c. M.17.c.1.2).

After the war Kelly's body was exhumed and re-buried in the Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme, France, grave XIII.W.10. With the body was found a 'Traffic Control Policeman' armlet, suggesting the duties he was undertaking at the time of his death. His gravestone inscription reads:

71162 PRIVATE
A. G. KELLY
NORTH IRISH HORSE
26TH AUGUST 1918 AGE 28

Kelly's older brother Andy also served during the war, with the 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion, and was awarded the Military Medal for "gallant service and devotion to duty in the field".