Raymond T Pelly DSO

Raymond Theodore Pelly, from Plymouth, was born on 30 July 1881, commissioned into the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and served on the staff of the Duke of Connaught. He joined the PPCLI as a major, one of the first officers of the regiment. When Colonel Buller was wounded at the first battle of Ypres in May 1915 he assumed command. He was promote to lieutenant-colonel on 14 June 1915 but when Buller returned to the regiment he was transferred to command the 8th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment. However, Colonel Buller was killed at Santuary Wood on 2 June 1916 so Pelly returned to take command of the PPCLI on 3 August. He commanded during operations on the Somme in Sep and Oct 1916 but on 1 Nov was appointed to the post of instructor at Aldershot to train potential commanding officers. Following this he was promoted to Brigadier-General and commanded the 91st British Infantry Brigade on the Western Front and in Italy. He subsequently was appointed CB and CMG, received a bar to his DSO, and was awarded the Italian Croce di Guerra. He was mentioned in despatches five times.

Regimental Details | Commanding Officers