Kelly was Somerville's most persistent interwar mentor, employing him as flag captain during two postings and selecting him to repair HMS Norfolk after Invergordon. Kelly's own career included reinforcing the Mediterranean during the Chanak Crisis, serving as Fourth Sea Lord, and maintaining reserve strength. After the mutiny he took charge of the Atlantic Fleet, renamed it the Home Fleet, and tried to restore its effectiveness and reputation. With support from Somerville, Rear Admiral Reginald Henderson, and other officers, he issued a report criticizing the Admiralty's handling of the pay cuts that had triggered the crisis. His example joined operational readiness and logistical competence to a willingness to speak plainly about institutional mistakes. The repeated appointments show that Kelly's advocacy materially shaped Somerville's path toward high command.
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John Kelly made leadership Somerville's final lesson
John Kelly repeatedly selected Somerville for demanding work and modeled a form of naval leadership that combined readiness, logistics, institutional reform, and candor about Admiralty failure.