Roll of Honor
Incident
On 11th February 1920, Constable Kelly was on his beat patrolling for the night shift when about 3.30am he was passing by Acton District Railway Station and saw that the outer gate of the railway station had been forced and that the centre window of the booking hall had been broken. He went in and saw a burglar hiding there.
A struggle followed but the burglar managed to escape and bolted along Gunnersbury Lane, pursued by Constable Kelly. The burglar ran behind a tree and then fired three shots at Constable Kelly which were heard by a private Constable who was in a nearby lodge with his watchdog.
The burglar then ran along Cope’s Lane and the private Constable came out into the lane and tried to stop the burglar, managing to land a heavy blow on him about the neck, but was then himself also shot, being hit in the shoulder. The private Constable’s dog also went for the burglar and was also shot at.
After being taken to St Thomas’ Hospital it was discovered that Constable Kelly had been shot in the abdomen, chest and left leg. He was conscious and gave an account of the incident but could only describe his attacker as a male in a trench coat.
Gangrene set in and he got steadily weaker then, on 21st February, cellulitis set in and he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
He was survived by his wife whom he had married only two weeks earlier. His funeral took place at Westminster Cathedral on 27th February and he was buried in Chiswick Cemetery.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife whom he had married only two weeks earlier.
In Our Keeping
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- April 8, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Constable Kelly served with the Metropolitan Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Constable Kelly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Constable James Kelly is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 29.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Metropolitan Police, 185 of 729 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Kelly's cause is highlighted.
How James Kelly Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Kelly is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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