Joseph Henry Kelly

A Second Hand with H.M.S. Q. 20, Joseph died on 29th of March 1917 at the age of 39.

Joseph was born at Ballachrink, Lonan, Isle of Man, on 8 November 1877, a son of John Robert and Alice Jane Kelly. In 1881 his family lived at Ballachrink Farm House, and they were still living at Ballachrink in 1891. Later his father lived at Stanley Road, Peel, Isle of Man. 

Joseph married Elizabeth Ross in 1901. In 1911 they lived at 31 Custom House Lane, Fleetwood and, by July 1915 their home was at 50 Dock Street, Fleetwood. In April 1917 Elizabeth moved to Lowestoft and later she lived at Wharf Cottage, 2 Belvedere Road.

Joseph joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 13 January 1915, but had served in the R.N.R. before this. He served with the trawler Loch Morar until 26 September 1915 when he joined the trawler Sargon and also served with the Gabir before joining H.M.S. Q 20 on 17 January 1917. 

H.M.S. Q 20 was a motor lugger, fishing vessel, built in 1908. The vessel also went under a number of different names, including: H.M.S. Bayard, Ledger 898, and Syren. Technically a ‘Q ship’ the lugger was fitted with one 13 pounder and one 3 pounder gun and would be ‘disguised’ until it came upon an enemy submarine, or other boat, at which point the ‘Q ship’ would engage the enemy. On 11 March 1917 the Q 20 engaged two enemy submarines and damaged one of them. 

On 29 March 1917 the Q 20 was in the English Channel and collided with the S.S. Tainui. The Q 20 sank with the loss of 16 crew.  

Joseph was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, London Gazette 12 May 1917. His award is in a list entitled ‘miscellaneous services’, but contemporary newspaper accounts suggest that this was for ‘gallantry at sea’.