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Remembered Today:

Lt Colonel Roache-Kelly DSO


Rob B

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Hello All,

I was told recently that my wifes Grandmother had 7 brothers (fine Catholics) who all served in the 1st War with predominantly Irish Regiments, as they were from County Clair.

I have the photo of Captain J Roache-Kellys grave marker in South Africa and a photo of Lt Colonel Roache-Kelly leaving the Palace having received the DSO. I was told he commanded the Irish Horse we have some pictures of him with the Regiment on exercise and the Horse lines. So can any one point me to the annals of the Regiment, and perhaps unearth a bit more about him and his brothers.

Thank you all again.

Cheers,

Rob

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North or South Irish Horse?

This is a link to the North Irish

http://rurmuseum.tripod.com/carrick.htm#TH...20IRISH%20HORSE

This a link to the South Irish:

http://southirishhorse.com/

And a link on this site for both:

http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/cavregiments.htm

Steve

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Steve,

Thank you he was South Irish Horse, details as below.

James Roche-Kelly MC

2nd Lt,31 May 09.

Lieut, 30 May 14. Capt, 20 Oct 15. Lt Col, 12 Apr 18. On prob 1910 list (MC 17 Jan 17 ) Temp Lt Col of 7th bn RIR 12 Mar 18.

Thank you,

Rob

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There was also an E Roche-Kelly, DSO, MC., who was educated at Downside School (that's Catholic, isn't it?), and who served with the Royal Irish Regt in S Africa and Great War winning his DSO cammanding a Battn of that Regt.

Some relation?

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Wonderful you have found the illusive Edmond, this is getting better and better as his brother James commanded the 7th RIH in France winning a DSO and MC as well. Downside is certainly a Catholic public school.

One of them went onto become a Major General I have money on Edmund.

Fantastic,

Thanks,

Rob

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Rob

From Downside and the War

Roche-Kelly, Edmund John, September, 1894, to July 1899

Lieut.-Col., Royal Irish Regiment. D.S.O., Despatches (twice), Legion of Honour.

Roche-Kelly, James, September, 1893, to July, 1898

Lieut.-Col., South Irish Horse. M.C., Despatches.

Regards

Pam

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Edmund's MC Citation:

London Gazette 17-9-1917 (Publ. 14-9-1917)

Maj. (T./Lt.-Col.) Edmund Roche-Kelly, R. Ir. Regt.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in commanding Jiis battalion through an attack, in which he displayed great fearlessness and exceptional skill. He moved up through very heavy enemy barrage, personally reconnoitred two advanced positions, and supervised all details of consolidation, all the while exposed to very heavy shell fire. His splendid personal example and disregard of danger imbued all ranks with a spirit that swept away all opposition.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

Steve.

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Various extracts from the London Gazette:

(With apologies to those whose posts I am partially repeating...)

EDMUND ROCHE-KELLY

5-11-1915 (5-11-1915)

The Royal Irish Regiment.

Captain E. Roche-Kelly, The Royal Irish Regiment, to be Adjutant (temporary).Dated 25th September, 1915.

17-1-1917 (16-1-1917)

R. Ir. Regt.

Maj. E. Roche-Kelly (R. Ir. Regt.) to comd. a Bn. and to be temp. Lt.-Col. 31 Oct. 1916.

14-7-1917 (13-7-1917)

Croix de Guerre

Legion d'Honneur.

Croix de Chevalier.

Major (temporary Lieutenant - Colonel) Edmund Roche-Kelly, Royal Irish Regiment.

25-6-1918 (21-6-1918)

Somerset L.I.—Maj. E. Roche-Kelly, D..S.O., R. Irish Regt. (temp. Lt.-Col., Service Bn.), temporarily to command Bn. 18th May 1918.

15-8-1922 (5-8-1922)

Border R.—Maj. E. Roche-Kelly, D.S.O., from R. Ir. Regt., to be Maj. 16th Aug.

1922, with seniority 8th Jan. 1916.

W. Roche-Kelly

5-7-1916 (4-7-1916)

15th June 1916.

ESTABLISHMENTS.

ROYAL FLYING CORPS.

Mil. Wing.—The undermentioned appts. are made: —

Flying Officers. —

2nd Lt. W. Roche-Kelly, Spec. Res.

29-11-1917 (28-11-1917)

ROYAL FLYING CORPS.

Mil. Wing.—The undermentioned appts. Are made: —

Flight Comdrs.—From Flying Officers.

Nov. 1917: —

And to be temp. Capts. whilst so empld.: —

Lt. W. Roche-Kelly, Spec. Res.

G. R. Roche-Kelly

2-2-1917 (2-2-1917)

R. Innis Fus.

The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts. to be temp. Lts.:—

G. R. Roche-Kelly. 10 July 1916.

20-7-1918 (19-7-1918)

R. Innis. Fus.

Temp. Lt. G. R. Roche-Kelly to be temp. Capt. 8 Nov: 1917.

9-7-1920 (9-7-1920)

R. Innis. Fus.

Temp. Capt. G. R. Roche-Kelly relinquishes his commission on completion of service, 30 May 1920, and retains the rank of Capt.

James Roche-Kelly

23-10-1915 (22-10-1915)

The Royal Munster Fusiliers.

The undermentioned to be Captains: —

Dated 2nd October, 1915.

Lieutenant J. Roche-Kelly, from South Irish Horse.

29-12-1915 (28-12-1915)

SPECIAL RESERVE OF OFFICERS.

RESERVE UNITS.

CAVALRY.

South Irish Horse.

Lieutenant James Roche-Kelly to be Captain. Dated 20th October, 1915, with seniority next below L. A. Bryan.

3-12-1915 (3-12-1915)

The Royal Munster Fusiliers.

The promotion to the rank of Captain of Lieutenant J. Roche-Kelly, from South Irish Horse, notified in the Gazette of 23rd October, 1915, is cancelled at his own request.

1-1-1917 (29-12-1916)

TO BE AWARDED THE MILITARY CROSS.

Capt. James Roche-Kelly, S. Ir. Horse.

10-4-1918 (9-4-1918)

R. Ir. Regt.

The undermentioned Capts. (S. Ir. Horse) are apptd. to a Bn. 27 Aug. 1917, retaining present seniority: —

J. Roche-Kelly, M.C.

11-6-1918 (7-6-1918)

R. Ir. Regt

Capt. (temp. Maj.) J. Roche-Kelly, M.C. (S. Ir. Horse), to be actg. Lt.-Col. while comdg. a Bn. 21 Mar. 1918.

4-7-1918 (2-7-1918)

R. Ir. Regt

Temp. Maj. (actg. Lt.-Col.) J. Roche-Kelly, M.C. (Capt., S. Ir. Horse), to comd. a Bn., and to be temp. Lt.-Col. 12 Apr. 1918, with seniority 21 Mar. 1918.

John Edward Roche-Kelly

24-1-1916 (21-1-1916)

ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE.

Royal Army Medical Corps.

The undermentioned to be temporary

Lieutenants: —

John Edward Joseph Roche Kelly..

Algernon James Stackpoole Roche-Kelly

29-8-1914 (28-8-1914)

ROYAL REGIMENT OF. ARTILLERY.

The undermentioned to be Captains. Dated 30th August, 1914: —

Algernon James Stackpoole Roche-Kelly, late Captain, Royal Field Artillery, Special Reserve.

James William Roche-Kelly

7-3-1919 (7-3-1919)

2-32nd Madras and Southern Mahratta Rly.' Rifles.

To be 2nd Lieuts.

1st Apr. 1917.

James William Roche-Kelly, John Houghton Peebles, ArtJhur George Pearce, William Russell Creeke.

Steve.

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Edmund's MC Citation:

London Gazette 17-9-1917 (Publ. 14-9-1917)

Maj. (T./Lt.-Col.) Edmund Roche-Kelly, R. Ir. Regt.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in commanding Jiis battalion through an attack, in which he displayed great fearlessness and exceptional skill. He moved up through very heavy enemy barrage, personally reconnoitred two advanced positions, and supervised all details of consolidation, all the while exposed to very heavy shell fire. His splendid personal example and disregard of danger imbued all ranks with a spirit that swept away all opposition.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

Steve.

Steve

That's the DSO citation. Looking at his "who's Who" entry, I suspect he didn't have an MC, in actual fact.

Wonderful family!

Steve

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Oops! Good spot. Did wonder why the MC didn't appear after his name in the Gazette. Should have checked back through the pages.

Steve.

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Steve,

Thank you so much for all your hard work this is all wonderful, and lots of things to now dig around with.

Cheers,

Rob

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Rob

This is from the Distinguished Service Order 1886 to 1923

Edmund Roche-Kelly (DSO)

LG 17/9/1917

Born 11/4/1881

Son of Michael Roche-Kelly

Married Kathleen Mary daughter of Col J. M. F. Shine CB, AMS

1 son and 1 daughter

Educated Downside College near Bath

2nd Lt Unattached 8/1/1901

2nd Lt RIR 9/3/1901

Lt 14/10/1903

Captain 1/6/1909

Major 8/1/1916

Adjt. RIR 1909-1912

Served S African War 1901-1902

Queen's Medal and 5 Clasps

European War 1914-1918

Commanded a Battalion

MC, Chevalier, Legion of Honour

Regards

Pam

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Pam,

Thank you so much for this I was chatting to my mother in law tonight and she mentioned that Edmunds wife Kathleen (Kitty) had 7 brothers who were all killed in the 1st War so this is another thread for me to follow.

What an amazing family group this is becoming I will now post Colonel JMF Shine CB, AMS and find out what he was up to and how his 7 sons were killed and where.

Thank you so much.

Cheers,

Rob

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