| Harley | Henry Kellett | | Lieutenant | HARLEY, HENRY KELLETT, Lieutenant, was born 2 December 1868, and was gazetted to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, as Second Lieutenant, 14 July 1890, being transferred to the Indian Staff Corps 13 June 1892. He served in the Chitral Expedition in 1895; took part in the defence of the Fort of Chitral. He commanded the British Agents' Escort. Lieutenant Harley was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 16 July 1895], received the Medal and clasp; was promoted to Captain 16 July 1898; given the Brevet of Major 17 July 18D8, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 16 July 1895]: "Henry Kellett Harley, Lieutenant, Indian Stall Corps. In recognition of services during the recent operations in Chitral". The Insignia were presented to him 11 November 1895. He was employed with the Egyptian Army 18 January 1897 to 30 June 1898, and served in the Nile Expedition of 1897 (Medal with clasp). In the Nile Expedition of 1898 he was present at the Battle of the Atbara; was severely wounded, mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 24 May 1898], and received the Medal. He became Captain, Dorsetshire Regiment 24 June 1900, and 7th Hussars 24 June 1900; and served in the South African War in 1901 and 1902, taking part in the operations in the Transvaal, March to 31 May 1902; operations in Orange River Colony, January 10 to May 1902; operations in Cape Colony, December 1901 to January 1902. He received the Queen's Medal with five clasps. He was Adjutant, Imperial Yeomanry, 18 January 1905 to 31 March 1908; and Adjutant, Territorial Force, 1 April 1908; and retired from the 7th Hussars 3 July 1909. Major Harley served in the European War in France, with the RFA and RGA, 1916-17; was mentioned in Despatches; received the Croix de Guerre and the Bronze Military Medal for Valour, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 3 June 1919. He served on the Staff of the British Mission, GHQ, Italy. Lieutenant Colonel Harley married, in 1899, the Honourable Margaret Holland, daughter of the 1st Lord Rotherham, and they had one son and one daughter. He married (secondly) Thella, daughter of Henri Bluston, of Kovno, Russian Poland, and they had three sons. Colonel Harley died 9 January 1921. An obituary notice ('Times' of 12 January) said that the death had occurred, "in his fifty-third year of Lieutenant Colonel H K Harley, who served with distinction in the Chitral Expedition of 1895, and gained the DSO in the defence of Chitral Fort. ... He was a descendant of Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford".
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Indian Staff Corps |
