Commissioned in 1939, H.M.S. KELLY, was commanded by Lord Louis Mountbatten.

KELLY's career was a succession of daring forays. Her hull design and propulsion made her one of the fastest destroyers of the Fleet. She had a ship's company of 218 officers and men. HMS Kelly had six 4.7 inch guns, five torpedo tubes and one 4 inch anti aircraft gun. 365 feet overall she displaced 1760 tons. Of radical design, she was one of the first single funnel destroyers.

Robert Taylor's superb painting of H.M.S. KELLY, which now hangs in the Imperial War Museum in London, depicts KELLY leaving Grand Harbour, Malta 1941 with H.M.S. WARSPITE in the background. I

Lord Louis Mountbatten who joined the Royal Navy at the outbreak of WWI. At the outset of WWII he captained his own ship and fought the war with great distinction. Later he became the last Viceroy of India, and subsequently First Sea Lord. Uncle to her Majesty the Queen, Lord Louis Mountbatten was undoubtedly one of the great men of the 20th Century. I admire Mountbatten because of the special ability he had to motivate his men in such a way that they serve him out of love and respect.