Thomas Billows BELLAMY

02 July 1915

COMMISSION FOR AN OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOY

Mr. T. B. Bellamy, younger son of Mr. Thos. Bellamy, of Skipton, has obtained a commission in the 10th Royal Lancasters, and left on Sunday evening last to take up duty at Plymouth. Second Lieut. Bellamy is an old boy of Ermystead's Grammar School, and prior to the outbreak of war was employed by Messrs. John Mollett, ironmongers, of Bradford.

In the latter part of September he joined the R.F.A. as a ranker, and has been in training at various places until a week ago. He had attained the rank of Corporal when he received his commission.

10 December 1915

SKIPTONIAN ENLISTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Mr. James Bellamy, eldest son of Mr. Thos. Bellamy, of Skipton, has joined the mechanical transport section of the South African Imperial Force. Mr. Bellamy, who was formerly employed by Messrs. Baxter and Wroe, of Skipton, went to South Africa about four years ago, and has since held a responsible and remunerative appointment in connection with the gold mining industry at Rudeport, some fourteen miles from Johannesburg.

Second-Lieut. T. Bellamy, of the King's Royal Lancaster Regiment, younger son of Mr. T Bellamy, who a few days ago spent a short leave at home from the training quarters at Wareham, Dorset, will, by the time these lines appear, in all probability have departed for a destination overseas.

04 May 1917

SKIPTON HONOURED

Second-Lieutenant T. Bellamy, son of Mr. T. Bellamy, Chapel Hill, Skipton, who was educated at the Skipton National School and the Skipton Grammar School, and is attached to the South Lancashire Regiment, was, along with two other officers of the advance guard, the first to enter Baghdad.

11 May 1917

CRAVEN AND THE WAR - LIEUTENANT T. B. BELLAMY WOUNDED

Mr. and Mrs. T. Bellamy, of Chapel Hill, Skipton, received a telegram on Wednesday afternoon intimating that their son, Second Lieutenant T. B. Bellamy, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, had been wounded in Mesopotamia on April 30th. Formerly a traveller for Mr. John Mollett, ironmonger, Bradford, Lieut. Bellamy enlisted as a private in the R.F.A. a month after the outbreak of war, and two years ago accepted the offer of a commission, and was posted to his present Regiment. He afterwards went out to Mesopotamia and took part in the operations for the relief of General Townsend. Later he went to India on sick leave, and returned to Mesopotamia last Christmas. As stated in our last issue, he was, along with two other officers of an advance guard, the first to enter Baghdad.

18 May 1917

BELLAMY - Died as the result of wounds received in action in Mesopotamia, on April 30th 1917, Second Lieutenant T. B. Bellamy, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Bellamy, Chapel Hill, Skipton.

18 May 1917

LIEUTENANT T. B. BELLAMY DIES OF WOUNDS

We regret to state that Mr. T. Bellamy of Chapel Hill, Skipton, received a telegram from the military authorities on Wednesday morning conveying the sad news that his son, Second Lieutenant T. B. Bellamy, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, had died from wounds received in Mesopotamia on April 30th (reference to whom was made in the Craven Herald last week). Formerly a traveller for Mr. John Mollett, ironmonger, Bradford, Lieut. Bellamy enlisted as a private in the R.F.A. a month after the outbreak of war, and two years ago accepted the offer of a commission and was posted to the Lancaster Regiment named. After taking part in the opening operations in Mesopotamia he went to India on sick leave, but returned to the Near East last Christmas, and along with two other officers of an advance guard, was the first to enter Baghdad. In the loss of a fine son, Mr. and Mrs. Bellamy have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends.

25 May 1917

LIEUTENANT T. B. BELLAMY, SKIPTON

We are able this week to reproduce a photograph of Second-Lieutenant T. B. Bellamy, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Bellamy, of Chapel Hill, Skipton, who, as recorded in last week's 'Craven Herald', died from wounds received in Mesopotamia on April 30th.

06 July 1917

THE LATE LIEUT. T. B. BELLAMY, SKIPTON - A BRAVE OFFICER, BELOVED BY HIS MEN

Details have now reached Mr. and Mrs. T. Bellamy, Park Hill Cottage, Skipton, of the manner in which their son, Second Lieutenant T.B. Bellamy, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, received his wounds in the Mesopotamian campaign on April 30th 1917, which ended in his death as recorded in the 'Herald' on May 18th last. Lieut. Bellamy, before enlistment a month after war was declared, represented Mr. John Mollett, ironmonger, Bradford. He accepted the offer of a commission and was posted, two years ago, to the regiment named above. He took part in the opening operations in Mesopotamia, was sent to India on sick leave, returned to the Near East last Christmas, and, along with two other officers of an advance guard, was the first to enter Baghdad.

Among several letters just received from Mesopotamia is one from Major F.C. Briggs, commanding the King's Own Regiment, and dated May 21st 1917. Major Briggs writes:- "It is with the deepest regret that I write to you about your son's death. As you know, he was wounded in action on April 30th during an attack on the Turkish position near Adhaim village. We easily took the enemy first line, and your son, with a party of men, rushed into an enemy communication trench and held it. He was very soon after wounded in the hand, and then in the head. We could not get him out of the communication trench till dusk, as the Turks' sniping was very heavy. At dusk he was taken to the doctor, and was very much better than we expected him to be, talking quite rationally, etc. He was sent to hospital in Baghdad and there appeared to be doing well, and from what we heard there was no cause for anxiety. So you may imagine how horrified we were a day or two ago to hear he had died of wounds. He had evidently had a relapse and was not strong enough to overcome it. We miss him very much indeed. He was a good soldier, loved by his men, and all his men are unanimous in their praise of his brave actions that day. Although first of all badly wounded in the hand, he did not stop doing his duty until wounded the second time. I send you my sincerest sympathy in your great loss."

The Chaplain (Captain F.H. Smith) writes:- "I think you will like to know that I frequently visited your son, and I buried him with military honours in the British Cemetery. He was admitted on May 2nd suffering from gunshot wounds. He seemed to be making satisfactory progress and was cheerful and plucky, but on the 11th May an operation became necessary and he passed away the next day. Please accept my deep sympathy with you in your severe loss."

Pte. J. Muirhead, who was the deceased officer's orderly, writes:- "I was his servant since we left India on Christmas Day, and I always found him to be both a gentleman and a soldier. He was a great favourite with every man in the Company. I have the Turkish flag that Mr. Bellamy captured at Baghdad, and I will forward it at the first opportunity."

Other letters from the deceased officer's friends speak in warm terms of praise of his pluck and endurance, and his popularity with his men.

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' - CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS

LIEUTENANT T. B. BELLAMY

King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Bellamy, Chapel Hill, Skipton, died from wounds received in Mesopotamia April 30th, 1917. Lieut. Bellamy, along with two other officers of an advanced guard, was the first to enter Baghdad.