Medal of Honor

The City of Glasgow RNA were contacted by the family of a Medal of Honor recipient with a view to laying up the flag that covered his coffin with a museum. S/m Kenn McKinnon chairman of the branch made arrangements with the Armed Forces Veterans Association to receive it at their museum in Dumbarton Central Station, room 2 on platform 2. On the 20th of September Graham Houston great grandson, Mary Houston great grand daughter, Marilyn McDermot great grand daughter and David Houston great great grandson handed the flag over to Tony Barr and Hugh Doohan of the Veterans Center. Francis Kelly Francis Kelly was born Archibald Houston in Anderston, Glasgow, Scotland. He enlisted in the US Navy from Massachusetts, and served as a watertender in the collier USS Merrimac during the Spanish–American War. Kelly was one of eight volunteer crew members when Rear Admiral William T Sampson ordered Merrimac sunk to block the entrance of Santiago Harbor, Cuba. On the night of 2-June 3, 1898, during the attempt to execute this mission, Merrimac's steering gear was disabled by enemy gunfire, and she sank without obstructing navigation. Her crewmen were rescued by the Spanish and made prisoners-of-war. After the Battle of Santiago de Cuba destroyed the Spanish fleet a month later, Kelly and his shipmates were released. For his actions during this operation, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Francis Kelly remained in the Navy after the Spanish–American War, ultimately obtaining the rank of Chief Machinists Mate. He returned home to Glasgow, and died there in 1938, his death certificate states "Archibald Houston (formerly Francis Kelly), US naval pensioner". He is buried at Sandymount Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland. Medal of Honor citation Kelly's official Medal of Honor citation reads as follows: In connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. Merrimac at the entrance to the harbour of Santiago de Cuba, June 2, 1898. Despite heavy fire from the Spanish batteries, KELLY displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this operation.