Henry Kelly ( VC ) Major Henry Kelly VC , MC & Bar ( 10 July 1887 – 18 July 1960 ) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces . Kelly was born on 10 July 1887 in Collyhurst , Manchester . He was a temporary second lieutenant in the 10th Battalion , The Duke of Wellington ' s ( West Riding ) Regiment during the First World War at the time of his award of the Victoria Cross in 1916 . He was awarded a Military Cross and later a Bar to that medal in Italy in 1918 . Other Military awards include the Belgian Croix de guerre , the French Médaille militaire and the Spanish Grand Laurelled Cross of San Fernando . Early life . Henry Kelly was born to Charles Kelly of Dublin and Jane ( née McGarry ) of Manchester . He was left the oldest of 10 children after his father died in 1904 . He was educated at St Patrick ' s School and Xaverian College , both in Manchester . After moving to King Street in Moston he was employed as a sorting clerk at the Newton Street sorting office and trained with the ' Manchester Royal Engineers territorial Regiment ' . On 5 September 1914 , aged 27 , he enlisted into the Queen ' s Own Cameron Highlanders as a Private . He transferred to the Manchester Regiment and became a Lance Corporal and two weeks later a Sergeant Major . He was commissioned as a second Lieutenant on 12 May 1915 into the Duke of Wellington ' s Regiment ( West Riding Regiment ) . On 29 October 1918 he was awarded the Victoria Cross and after being presented with his VC ribbon , by the corps commander on 11 September he was made a Temporary Lieutenant . Award of Victoria Cross . On 4 October 1916 , when he was 29 years old , he performed an act of bravery at Le Sars , France for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross . Later he was also awarded the Belgian Croix de guerre and the French Médaille militaire . " " For most conspicuous bravery in an attack . He twice rallied his company under the heaviest fire , and finally led the only three available men into the enemy trench , and there remained bombing until two of them had become casualties and enemy reinforcements had arrived . He then carried his Company Sergeant Major , who had been wounded , back to our trenches , a distance of 70 yards , and subsequently three other soldiers . He set a fine example of gallantry and endurance . " " Award of Military Cross . In June 1918 , as a Captain serving in the 10th Battalion , he saw action in Italy on the Asiago Plateau , where he led a company and a half on a successful raid on ' Ave ' , to the south of Asiago , on the night of 21 – 22 June , after which he was awarded the Military Cross . " " For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Ave , on the night of the 21 / 22nd June , 1918 , when in charge of a company and a half in a raid . Despite a bright moon , he successfully assembled his party and attacked , killing a large number of the enemy and capturing thirty - one prisoners and two machine - guns . His gallantry and fine leadership were largely responsible for the success of the raid " " " Headquarters ' G ' 23rd Division REPORT ON RAID ON AVE CARRIED OUT BY 10TH DUKE OF WELLINGTON ' S REGIMENT NIGHT 21 / 22ND JUNE 1918 1 . The raiding party one coy with two platoons in support under CAPT H KELLY , VC formed up without incident and the advance commenced at 11 . 30pm according to time table . 2 . S . AVE was found to be very lightly held ( it is possible that the remainder of the garrison fled when the barrage came down ) and was quickly mopped up . An Outpost or working party was also met with about 100 yds in front of the front trench . These were mostly killed , the remainder fled , and the advance was in no way delayed . 3 . The enemy ' s front line was entered at 11 . 40pm on a frontage of 200 yds E of the GUARDINALTI - AVE Road . The trench was found to be very strongly held , a Coy apparently being concentrated for relief . 4 . The raiding party was thoroughly imbued with the " spirit of the bayonet " and the greater part of the garrison was wiped out with cold steel after slight resistance . All dugouts were thoroughly bombed . There can be no doubt that the number of enemy killed was very high , even after making full allowance for the impossibility of obtaining really accurate figures . With some difficulty the officers of the party were able to ensure that 31 of the enemy were brought back alive for identification purposes etc . All are convinced that this formed less than a third of the garrison of the trench . 5 . One machine gun was captured in good condition . Another was captured but had been so damaged by artillery fire that it was not worth salving . One Flammenwerfer was also obtained . 6 . The raiding party returned in good order through the enemy ' s barrage about 12 midnight without incurring further casualties . 7 . Result of raid : Prisoners 31 . Enemy killed : Highest estimate 80 , Lowest estimate 50 , M . G ' s captured 2 , M . G ' s destroyed 1 , Flammenwerfer captured 1 . 8 . Casualties : Killed 1 other rank . Wounded 1 officer , 18 other ranks . Missing 1 officer , 2 other ranks . sgd . A B BEAUMAN , Brig . Gen Cmdg 69th Infantry Brigade " Award of Bar to Military Cross . Kelly was involved in later actions on Il Montello above the river Piave On 27 October 1918 during the Piave he led another successful attack across the Piave , after which he was awarded a bar to his Military Cross . " " On the 27th October , 1918 , in the attack in the enemy positions across the Piave , he led his company with greatest dash and gallantry to the capture of all its objectives . His coolness and utter disregard of danger under heavy fire of all description inspired all ranks , and by his skilful leadership his company succeeded in taking many machine - guns and several hundred prisoners . " " Kelly left the army in 1920 , having been promoted to the rank of Temporary Major and put in charge of a rest camp in France . Between the wars . Kelly went on to join the ' International Brigade ' , in 1936 , as a foreign volunteer fighting against Fascists in the Spanish Civil War and was ranked Commandente Generale . Here he was awarded the Grand Laurelled Cross of San Fernando . At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 , aged 52 , he rejoined the British army and served from thence as a Lieutenant in the Cheshire Regiment . From October 1943 until February 1944 he was placed in charge of the District Claims office of London District , at Curzon Street . He was at that time Court Martialled and severely reprimanded for making , an allegedly , false claim for £2 10s . He later resigned his commission and left the army to return to work for the Post Office . Post War . Kelley continued to work for the Post Office and lived in Wythenshawe , Greater Manchester . Following a long illness Kelly died , on 18 January 1960 , in Prestwich Hospital . He was buried after a private funeral , attended by members of his family and representatives of the Duke of Wellington ' s Regiment ( West Riding ) , in the Southern Cemetery , Manchester . Medal Location . Kelly ' s Victoria Cross is displayed in The Duke of Wellington ' s Regimental Museum , located within the Bankfield Museum , Halifax , West Yorkshire , England .