[1] He was posted as a lieutenant to the protected cruiser HMS Spartiate in late March 1902,[2] went to Somaliland in 1902 and became naval attaché in Paris in 1911.

[1] In May 1919, First Sea Lord Rosslyn Wemyss appointed Kelly as head of British Naval Mission to Greece.

Kelly discovered the Hellenic Navy in a run down condition after the Allies had emptied its stores during the course of World War I without paying any compensation.

Kelly went on to reorganize the Wireless Telegraphy Service and establish the Hydrographic and a Naval Works Department.

[1] He was on board the minesweeper HMS Petersfield when it ran aground at Tungyung Island in November 1931 – all aboard were rescued.