Lieutenant Christopher Patrick John O'Kelly

Regiment: Canadian Infantry
Date published: 25/11/1918
Killed in action: No
Information: Lt. (A./Capt.) Christopher Patrick John O'Kelly, M.C., Can. Inf., has been awarded the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery in an action in which he led his company with extraordinary skill and determination. After the original attack had failed and two companies of his unit had launched a new attack, Capt. O'Kelly advanced his command over 1,000 yards under heavy fire without any artillery barrage, took the enemy positions on the crest of the hill by storm, and then personally organised and led a series of attacks against “pill-boxes”, his company alone capturing six of them with 100 prisoners and 10 machine guns. Later on in the afternoon, under the leadership of this gallant officer, his company repelled a strong counter-attack, taking more prisoners, and subsequently during the night captured a hostile raiding party consisting of one officer, 10 men, and a machine gun. The whole of these achievements were chiefly due to the magnificent courage, daring, and ability of Captain O'Kelly. Captain C.P.J. O'Kelly is an Irish- Canadian, only son of Mr. Christopher O'Kelly, well known in Winnipeg, and a cousin of Mr. Edward O'Kelly, Canadian Representative in Dublin.