211851 Cpl. John Kellett MM.British Army 14th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers from:Widdrington At the outbreak of WW1, although as a coal miner, and being too old, John Kellett was exempted from military service but he was presented in the street with a white feather (symbolizing cowardice) by some stupid woman. He promptly enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers and trained in Aylesbury. He sailed to France on the 9th of Sept 1915 with the 14th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Only a few days later, after a long forced march, he and his battalion were fully engaged in the first major battle of WW1, the Battle of Loos, where they took major casualties. He was awarded the Military Medal (for bravery in the field) but would not say why. It is rumoured that he rescued four wounded men from shell hole under enemy fire. John was promoted to Corporal but could not be further promoted because he was illiterate. In May 1918 he was wounded in the leg by a ricochet rifle bullet and was captured by the Germans from between a Canadian and a French regiment, when the French withdrew without advising the Northumberland Fusiliers. John spent rest of WW1 in Gothenburg POW camp where his wound was operated on by a dentist from Leeds without anaesthetic. It never really healed and he had dressings on his leg for the rest of his life. He was repatriated via London to Coxlodge Asylum, Gosforth, which was used as Hospital. He was in and out of hospital for three years to recover and especially to save his leg. He often had nightmares of the trenches. He once tried to walk 23 miles, on crutches, from Coxlodge to Red Row for the weekend. Happily, he was given a lift by a farmer. After repatriation he lived in Red Row Northumberland and went back to work in Broomhill Colliery as a shotfirer, despite his crutches.
|