| Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny | |
|---|---|
General Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny |
|
| Born | 1843 |
| Died | 1914 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 6th Division |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George |
General Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny GCB GCVO (1840–1914) was a British Army general who served in the Second Boer War.
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Kelly-Kenny was born on 27 February 1840 at Doolough Lodge, Treanmanagh near Mullagh in County Clare, Ireland. He was educated as a lay student at St. Patrick's College, Carlow, he was the son of Thomas Kelly and added the Kenny surname in 1874.[1] He was appointed Ensign without purchase in the 1st Battalion, 2nd (The Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot on 2 February 1858 and was ADC to the General Officer Commanding Cape of Good Hope from 15 November 1859 to January 1860. He was further appointed Lieutenant by purchase on 12 October 1860 and Captain by purchase on 20 July 1866. He was (acting) Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General (QMG) in Bombay from 25 May 1869 to April 1870.
Promoted Colonel on 22 September 1887 he was Assistant Adjutant General (AAG) and QMG from that date until 30 June 1889. Continuing in senior appointments, he was AAG and QMG, North-Eastern District from 1 July 1889–21 September 1892. Later he became AAG Aldershot Garrison from 28 December 1893–12 March 1896.
In the Second Anglo-Boer war of 1899–1901 he was, as a Lieutenant-General, General Officer Commanding the 6th Division. He was twice Mentioned in Despatches and received the Queen’s South African Medal with four clasps. He was involved in the relief of Kimberley, the battles of Paardeberg, Poplar Grove and Driefontein.
At the battle of Paardeberg he had a conservative plan to besiege Cronje and bombard his force from a safe distance with superior artillery. When Roberts became ill he appointed Lieutenant General Herbert Kitchener as commander. Kitchener had become known as 'Kitchener of Khartoum' due to his success against the Dervishes in the Sudan. He overruled Kelly-Kenny and ordered an assault on the Boer trenches. The result was 'Bloody Sunday' — an unnecessary sacrifice of hundreds of lives on the British side. Kelly-Kenny was involved in the engagements at Poplar Grove and Driefontein and was well regarded by historians for his role. After that point the war became a series of guerilla skirmishes.
From 1901 to 1904, he was Adjutant-General to the Forces. There are references to his touring Japan as part of a mission to present the Order of the Garter to the Emperor and to the future King George V visiting his house in County Clare in 1906.
He retired in 1907 and died in 1914.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Evelyn Wood |
Adjutant General 1901–1904 |
Succeeded by Sir Charles Douglas |