PRIVATE J. KELLY, 41ST FOOT (1ST BATTALION THE WELSH REGIMENT). Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Victoria, type 3, small letters reverse (officially impressed: 496 PTE. J. KELLY, 41st. FOOT). Good Very Fine.

PRIVATE J. KELLY, 41ST FOOT (1ST BATTALION THE WELSH REGIMENT). Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Victoria, type 3, small letters reverse (officially impressed: 496 PTE. J. KELLY, 41st. FOOT). Good Very Fine.

Medal accompanied by 4 pages of photocopied service papers. Private James Kelly was born in the parish of Kilbridge, near Tullamore, county Offaly, Ireland, and originally enlisted into the 15th Foot at Mullingar, county Westmeath, on 16th August 1853. At the time of enlistment he was 19 years of age and gave his trade as that of labourer. He was posted 496 Private to the 15th Foot on 16th August 1853 and transferred to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Foot (The Buffs, East Kent Regiment) on 25th September 1857. He transferred for a second time, to the 41st Foot, on 1st April 1861, and was promoted Corporal on 21st July 1862. The promotion was short lived, Kelly being court martialled for being “drunk in barracks” and reduced to Private on 1st November of that year. A subsequent promotion to Corporal, on 10th May 1864, lasted somewhat longer, but he was once again tried for being drunk in barracks and reduced to Private on 13th April 1865. Kelly served a total of 21 years and 256 days with the colours, which included 316 days at Gibraltar and 9 years and 250 days in the East Indies. He was discharged at Shorncliffe on 27th April 1875, giving his intended place of residence as 22 Bridgewater Street, Liverpool. His conduct at the time of his discharge was noted as “very good” and he was in possession of 4 Good Conduct Badges.