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Pte. Joshua William Kelly
British Army 5th Btn Devonshire Regiment
from:Douglas, Isle of Man
Joss Kelly enlisted at Douglas on 20th of Feb 1917, aged 18 years 6 months. It was his second attempt at enlistment. He was 5' 3 1/2" and weighed 7 1/2 stone. The recruiting sergeant sent him away the first time, telling him he should come back when he'd grown a bit. He served in Palestine and France, where he was wounded at Rheims on 20th of Jul 1918. His record states: 'While advancing, a shell burst in close proximity and he was wounded in the leg'. Nature of Disability: 'Right foot [blown] off, stump gangrenous and full of maggots'. Treatment of Disability: 'Operation 24 Jul 1918, amputation [of right leg] 6 inches below [the] knee'. He was discharged as an invalid..
Like a lot of injured ex soldiers, he wasn't able to return to his profession as a Clothier's Assistant - his former employer wouldn't employ a cripple - so he made his living working various menial jobs. He was my great-grandfather. He lived to be 80. I suppose he was one of the lucky one's. He went over-the-top, aged 19, was blown up and left for dead three days in no-mans land. But he did at least survive.
