Career
His award was announced in the London Gazette of 10 February 1948. The Empire Plover responded to the South.O.S. but a lifeboat launched by the stricken vessel capsized, throwing its ten occupants into the water. As the men of the Empire Plover lowered ropes and two crew members climbed down the scrambling nets to assist, Kelly swam with a line to the people struggling in the turbulent water and rescued a badly injured officer
He returned again to drag another man to safety but on his third foray he and the woman he was rescuing were swamped by a wave and disappeared.
Five of the lifeboat"s occupants were rescued in all.