TOPIC:

A unique gift to a maimed soldier.

"Private P. Kelly, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, who was wounded on Sugar Loaf Hill and Spion Kop, returned to Burnley last night, and received a regular soldier's welcome. At the first engagement he was wounded in his left heel, and at Spion Kop had his arm and shoulder blade shattered. He was saturated with blood, and had to remain in that state for some time. Prior to coming to Burnley, Private Kelly says the Queen requested him to be measured for a special arm. He had attended at Marlborough House by command, was presented to the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duchess of York, and before leaving the Princess presented him with a £10 note, and gave him a small work entitled "Precious Truths For Everyone" as a souvenir. On the flyleaf of the book was the following, penned by the Princess: "For Private Kelly, from Princess of Wales. 'Fight the good fight with all thy might.' In remembrance of Spion Kop. A gift from the Princess of Wales." The Prince of Wales's gift consisted of a briar pipe and tobacco."
Lancashire Daily Post, Wednesday 23rd May 1900
£10 in 1900 is approximately equivalent in purchasing power to £1200 in 2020.

Berenice
Palmer shows "3457 Pte. J.Kelly of 2LF as wounded, Spion Kop, 24/1/00". WO100/179 shows for 2LF on p.59, "3457 Pte. J.Kelly" of 2LF with QSA clasp entitlement "Relief of Ladysmith". Marginal note shows "Invalided, 31/3". The small book "Precious Truths for Everyone" was by S.M.Haughton (Christian Colportage, London) and first published in 1876. Hopefully, the personal attention from The Queen, the inscribed book, the ten pounds and the briar pipe and tobacco were some small consolation for his injuries suffered on that dreadful day on The Kop.
Best regards
IL.

There seems to have been a second printing of the book in 1898 - online images show two different designs for the book, which would seemingly confirm the second printing.
Once I get access to the Burnley Express again, I should be able to add to this thread, hopefully with a sketch of Kelly.

Service papers on FmP, first name John, all else ties up. No mention of the wound in the heel.

Patrick or John? The only Kelly whose death was registered in Burnley in September 1905, was a Patrick Kelly, aged 31.


……The death at Burnley yesterday of Private Patrick Kelly, late of the Lancashire Fusiliers, recalls a stirring incident of the Natal campaign, and also a remarkable operation performed by Sir Francis Treves. Kelly was the strongest man in his regiment, and of exceptional vitality. At Spion Kop he had his left arm shattered by a Boer shell, and lay on the hill for two nights before help arrived. When darkness set in he spent his time in crawling about on the ground, holding the sleeve of his shattered arm between his teeth. He dragged his rifle with his left hand, and searched the bodies of the dead for any water that might have been left in their water-bottles. Kelly survived the amputation of arm, shoulder-blade, and collar-bone. Sir Frederick Treves presented him with his silver spirit flask, and visited him two or three times at Burnley. Kelly was presented to the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace, and received handsome presents from both. Sir Frederick, in his book on South Africa, says of Kelly that he was as plucky a soldier as the plucky soil of Ireland ever produced.

Evening Express, Wednesday 27th September 1905

Edit: - Burial: 30 Sep 1905 Burnley Cemetery, Burnley, Lancs.
Patrick Kelly -
Age: 31yrs
Abode: Finsley Gate
Grave: A16606
Gender: M
Register: Burials 1904 - 1909, Page 91, Entry 64824
Source: Original Registers Book 9
Grave: A16606 Burnley Cemetery, Burnley, Lancs.
Interments:

Name Age Abode Gender Source Register Date buried
1 Patrick Kelly 31yrs Finsley Gate M Book 9 #64824 30 Sep 1905
2 Michael Kelly 59yrs 64 Finsley Gate M Book 10 #73921 10 Feb 1911
3 Elizabeth Kelly 65yrs 64 Finsley Gate F Book 11 #81663 10 Dec 1915

That really does demonstrate the horrors of war. I can't imagine what that level of surgery must have been like all those years ago.