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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 34386 Thomas BELLAMY - 5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment


Killed in Action on 5th November 1918 aged 27


Military History

   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders British War & Victory Medals Ruesnes Communal Cemetery
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 Jan 1917 ~ Hockley Heath Church
    Hockley Heath War Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place Enlisted Umberslade Baptist Church 
Hundred Days Offensive November 1916 in Warwick  
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or UnitsOther War Memorials  
near Fresnoy Pte 35546 Yorkshire Regiment  
  Pte 71075 Royal Berkshire Regiment  

Circumstances of Death

Thomas is listed as being killed in action on 5th November 1918. The 5th Battalion Narrative of Operations for the 4th & 5th is transcribed below and from it we believe that Thomas was killed on the 4th November, not the 5th as reported by the CWGC. NB. In addition it should be noted that the original CWGC grave registration document gives his date of death as 10 Nov 1918 which records his burial in Plot 2 Row A and it that is the case the Battalion were involved in another large scale operation between the 7th and 10th November.

Narrative of Operations on 1918 Novr. 4th

The Battalion assembled at R.25.c about 01.30 hours without any trouble and rested until morning. Zero hour for the attack was at 05.30 hours.

The Battalion Jumps Off

At 06.30 hour the Battalion moved off by platoons at 30 yard interval form the assembly positions and followed a taped out track through R.25.b, R.20.c&d, R.21.a&b to railway about R.16 central. Little difficultly was experienced in reaching the line of the railway about R.16.central. Although the Battalion had to go through the enemy barrage comparatively few  casualties resulted. It was not necessary to split into smaller formations than platoons. Owing to a very thick morning mist and the fact that the New Zealand Division had to go through our Divisional area at the same time as ourselves in their encirlement of Le Quesnoy it was rather difficult keeping touch between platoons.

On reaching the railway line companies were able to reorganise in the Sunken Road, in R.17.a&o. From this point D Coy (left) and B Coy (right) went forward in a due easterly direction in artillery formation of platoons. On reaching the lines about Grid line between M.14 and M.15 both companies had to extend on coming under Machine Gun fire from Orchards in M.15.b&c. It was found that 2/4 Duke of Wellington’s had not quite reached the Green Line and enemy machine guns were very troublesome in front of this line. Both companies decided to leapfrog through 2/4 Duke of Wellingtons in M.15.a&c and continue the advance at once. The enemy artillery was particularly active in R.17.c&d and R.18.a&c whilst moving up.




 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
Jan Qtr 1891 in Lapworth 1 Feb 1891 in Lapworth
   
Parents NamesAbode
George and Mary Ann Bellamy  Chapel Lane, Hockley Heath 
   
Wife and Marriage Details Abode
Mary Ellen Bellamy nee Green
9 Bridge Street, West Bromwich                         
6 Mar 1917 at Ebenezer Chapel, West Bromwich  
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1891 - Grocers Shop, Lapworth 1901 - School Age
1901 - Hockley Heath 1911 - Wheelwright  
1911 - Hockley Heath  
1915 - School Lane, Hockley Heath