Admiral of the Fleet
Sir JOHN DONALD KELLY,
G.C.B., G.C.V.O.
Updated 18-Oct-2007
| Personal Details |
| Event |
Date / details |
Source |
| Date of Birth |
13 July 1871 |
1 |
| Place of Birth |
|
|
| Name of father |
Lieutenant H.H. Kelly |
2 |
| Profession of father |
Lieutenant, Royal Marine Artillery |
2 |
| Wife's Name |
Mary Kelly |
2 |
| Date of Marriage |
1915 |
2 |
| Place of Marriage |
|
|
| Date of Death |
04 November 1936 |
2 |
| Place of Death |
London |
2 |
| Place of Burial |
|
|
| Rank History |
| Rank |
Date attained |
Source |
| Entered Service |
15 January 1884 |
1 |
| Lieutenant |
31 December 1893 |
1 |
| Commander |
30 June 1904 |
1 |
| Captain |
22 June 1911 |
1 |
| Rear-Admiral |
21 November 1921 |
1 |
| Vice-Admiral |
25 October 1926 |
1 |
| Admiral |
12 December 1930 |
1 |
| Admiral of the Fleet |
12 July 1936 |
1 |
| Honours and Knighthoods |
| Honour or Knighthood |
Date awarded |
Date Gazetted |
Source |
| Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) |
01 January 1919 |
31
December 1918 |
3 |
| Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
(K.C.B.) |
3 June 1929 |
31
May 1929 |
3 |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (G.C.V.O.) |
22 July 1932 |
22
July 1932 |
3 |
| First and Principal Aide de Camp to His Majesty King George
V (A.D.C.) |
31 July 1934 - Aug 1936 |
|
1 |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the
Bath (G.C.B.) |
3 June 1935 |
31
May 1935 |
3 |
| Rewards & Distinctions |
| Source: ADM 196/ |
| |
| |
| Examinations |
| Source: ADM 196/ |
| |
| |
| Special Attainments or Qualifications |
| Source: ADM 196/ |
| |
| |
| Service / Appointments History |
| Ship |
Station |
Date of
appointment |
Date of
discharge |
Cause |
Source |
| Sultan |
|
1886 |
|
|
2 |
| San Pareil |
Mediterranean |
|
|
|
2 |
| Katoomba |
Australia |
1894 |
|
|
2 |
| Royal Arthur |
Australia |
1897 |
1900 |
|
2 |
| Sutlej |
China |
|
|
|
2 |
| Hawke |
Home? |
|
|
|
2 |
| Cornwallis |
Home? |
|
|
|
2 |
| R.N. College Greenwich |
|
|
|
|
2 |
| Superintendent of Physical Training |
|
1913 |
1914 |
|
2 |
| Devonshire |
Grand fleet |
March 1916 |
|
|
2 |
| Weymouth |
|
Sept 1916 |
|
|
2 |
| Princess Royal |
Grand fleet |
July 1917 |
|
|
2 |
| Director of Operations |
|
June 1919 |
Feb 1922 |
|
2 |
| Rear Admiral. 4th Battle Squadron |
Mediterranean |
27.7.22 |
8.23 |
|
1 |
| President addl |
|
1.3.24 |
30.4.27 |
|
1 |
| Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport |
|
1.4.24 |
|
1 |
| V.A.C. 1st B.S. (Vice Admiral Commanding 1st Battle Squadron) |
Medn |
30.4.27 |
26.4.29 |
|
1 |
| A.C.R. (Admiral Commanding, Reserve Fleet) |
|
1.8.29 |
24.9.31 |
|
1 |
| President addl |
|
24.9.31 |
13.9.33 |
|
1 |
| Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet |
|
6.10.31 |
|
1 |
| CinC, Portsmouth |
|
31.7.34 |
|
|
1 |
| First and Principal A.D.C. |
|
31.7.34 |
|
|
1 |
| Reports |
| Source: ADM 196/ |
| Date of Report |
General Conduct |
Ability |
Professional knowledge, specifying
any particular branch |
Whether temperate habits |
Special knowledge or acquirements
(Languages, Drawing, & c.) |
Remarks, mentioning any special
defects or high qualifications as regards Zeal, Judgment, Physical Qualities,
& c., and if specially recommended for advancement. |
Remarks |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Special Reports or Service |
| Source: ADM 196/ |
| |
| |
| Captains Confidential Reports |
| Source: ADM 196/89 -Captain's Confidential Report |
Date
 |
Remarks |
Reporting Officer
|
| 22.3.30 |
Report by Adm. Sir Roger Keyes:- "served under my command
for a year as 2nd in Command, Medn., 1927-28. During Gallipoli Campaign
he commanded 'Dublin' in Allied Fleet, in which I was C.O.S. to V.A.C.
Henwas D.O.D., and later 4 S.L. on the Board, of which I was D.C.N.S.
When 'Goben' & 'Breslau' escaped from Medn. Fleet into Mamora, the
conduct of his brother, Howard, in 'Gloucester', is accepted as a classic
of correct procedure, but students of that lamentable episode will give
J.D. Kelly at least equal credit for his conduct in 'Dublin'. While in
the E. Medn., he displayed admirable qualities of energy and enterprise,
and 'Dublin' was always to the fore during the heavy engagements &
arduous work in & about the Dardinelles and in support of the Army
in Gallipoli during the great landing. I have the highest possible opinion
of Adm. K. as a sea officer, a squadron commander and a leader who is
trusted & respected throughout the Service by everyone who has ever
had anything to do with him, officers & men alike. He is an able administrator
who can always be relied upon to give his opinion freely & without
prejudice, is fearless of responsibility, and possessed of a personality
which commands respect & devoted service. As 4. S.L. he had much experience
in dealing with personnel matters and there is no offr. in the Service
who knows the 'Service' or individuals in it more thoroughly than Adm.
K. At a moment when drastic reductions are necessary it is so important,
in my opinion, that the officer mainly responsible for this should have
the entire confidence of the personnel of the Navy. Because of these qualities,
when the captains'list was being reduced after the war, he was selected
to one of a small committee to investigate, report & make recommendations
to the Sea Lords as to the relative merits of the captains. I told the
1.S.L. in the summer of 1929 of my high opinion of Adm. K. and that I
considered he would make an excellent 2 S.L. I spoke in similar terms
of Adm. K. to the 1. L. in Sep. 1929." |
Adm. Sir Roger Keyes |
| June 1930 |
"Would be a good CinC Atlantic Fleet or 2nd Sea Lord
if vacancies give these openings to him." |
Sir Chas. Madden (on supersession as 1. S.L.) |
| Commanders Confidential Reports |
| Source: ADM 196/125 Commanders Confidential
Reports |
Date
|
Remarks |
Reporting Officer
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|