Jonathan Kelly GRc GC

Before you stands a man of honour and strength. Jonathan Kelly (GRc GC) was born of Anthony and Mary Kelly on the 9th of June 1700, but was given up at birth to an English family in a rough estate in London. These people were Frank and Beatrice Mallany. They brought him up under a military state of discipline. Taught how to fight with hands, swords, muskets and bayonets. With every mistake came a beating. With every beating came a hardened individual. Apart from the training to fight, the Mallany family could hardly afford schooling. Fortunately, Beatrice Mallany was well schooled, and taught Jonathan the basics, how to read, write, and solve simple calculations.

At the age of 14, Jonathan was sent to military training, to become part of the new line infantry divisions. His previous training prepared him for this, and was ready to serve his King and his Country. His first few years of service left confrontations few and far between. It wasn't until the late-1710's that his service became of use, when the Spanish attempted to recruit Scottish Clansman into a second Jacobite Rebellion.

In the 10th of June 1719, Jonathan saw his first battlefield experience at the Battle of Glenshiel. The British Redcoats of the 1st (and finest) Regiment Line infantry. He formed up with his regiment in the line, facing onto the Jacobite hordes. Fierce fighting broke out as the Jacobites charged into volley after volley of musket fire and bayonets. Little did the British troops realise that the Jacobites had seized control of one of the batteries of cannons. This is where the battle turned ugly for the British troops as the Jacobites turned the guns on the British line infantry.

This is where Jonathan's name was found by his commanders. He (and two of his comrades, Alan Tallacombe and James Malcolm, both received Mentions in Despatches for their bravery) ran forward into the fray and over the ridge the Cannons were sat upon. Jonathan fired his musket to the Jacobites holding the cannons as they reloaded, then charged forward with his bayonet. Alan and James followed him up, cutting through the Jacobites. Alan was hit by a Claymore as he charged into the fray. He died later of his wounds. James fought on, refusing to surrender, until a Jacobite hit him with a musket and another cut him with his Claymore. Jonathan continued to fight on his own, cutting down 117 Jacobite soldiers. He eventually received an injury, when a Jacobite thrust his Claymore into Jonathan's abdomen. After cutting down the culprit, keeping the Claymore inside the wound, he fought on until his troop charged over the ridge with a volley of musket fire. Jonathan raised his sword into the air (taken from a fallen Jacobite), shouting "FOR THE KING!" before leading the troop into the remaining Jacobites on the ridge.

Without the brave Actions of Jonathan Kelly, Alan Tallacombe and James Malcolm, the battle could have been lost. Alan Tallacombe and James Malcolm were buried with full military honours, whilst Jonathan Kelly received the Georges Cross for his bravery. His troop were thus named The Gallant Redcoats, and the coats of the fallen soldiers from the Gallant Redcoats were cut into strips, and awarded to the members of the troop as a headband, to be worn instead of their Tricorne hats, to act as a reminder of the sacrfice that the troop made on the field of battle that day. Any soldier seen wearing the Gallant Redcoat headband is considered one of the bravest and gallant soldiers within the British Forces.

Not long after this confrontation, Jonathan transferred to the Royal Navy, wanting to get away from the blood shed. Not long into his transfer, he was sent straight to the Burning Sea, where fighting was rife, the opposite of what he wanted to be doing. But he followed his orders and set sail in his ship the His Majesty's Ship (HMS) Vallacious, heading for the Caribbean to Conquer it for the King and the Country.

During a battle against a large smugglers fleet, Captain Jonathan Kelly met Captain Anthony Kelly, of which he, after the battle found out, was his half brother, born of the same mother. Now, in the year 1723, Captain Jonathan Kelly is a succesfull Captain with a loyal crew, sailing the sea in search of enemies of the crown.

During February of 1723, Jonathan, upon request of the govener of Port Royal, led a small contingent of Royal Marines onto the mainlands of Florida after spies had uncovered a sizeable force of french soldiers preparing an assault on the Bahamas. He led them from the front, on his horse, sword in his hand. He felt like he was back where he belonged. Having laid their ambush, they begun their initial attack, destroying the french cannons and supplies. They fell back behind the ambush, and waited for the French to follow. As soon as the French came within their sights, they dropped every last one of the French. The Marine unit got a battlefield citation, and Jonathan received a commendation from the govenor of Port Royal, and a recommendation for further operations on the mainland.