First World War service personnel-40556-Service File

William Joseph Bellamy

William Joseph Bellamy. Creator (cre): Canterbury Times. No known copyright.

Born: 23 February, 1895. Christchurch.
Died: 19 July, 1916. France.
Service Number: 24/1255
Rank: Rifleman.
Profession: Clerk.

William Joseph Bellamy (24/1255) was a First World War soldier with links to New Brighton.

William Joseph Bellamy was born on 23 February 1895 to William Henry and Janet Bellamy. He had four brothers and four sisters. His family lived at 69 Lonsdale Street, New Brighton, and he attended New Brighton School. His father was also a Justice of the Peace, a New Brighton Councillor, and later, Mayor of New Brighton Borough.

His military personnel file described him as being 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a dark complexion, black hair, and brown eyes. He belonged to the Church of England.

Prior to enlistment, William was working as a clerk with Bowron Brothers (however, an article stated he was working for Woolston Tanneries). He had experience serving with the Coastal Defence Force in Lyttelton.

He enlisted on 14 June 1915 as a Rifleman with the 2nd Battalion, serving with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, training in Trentham Military Camp. He embarked on one of five troopships, which left Wellington for Suez, Egypt on 9 October 1915.

Initially it was believed that William was taken prisoner by the Germans on either 19 or 20 July 1916. However, at a court of enquiry held on 26 April 1917, he was reported as having been killed in action on 19 to 20 July 1916.

He is remembered on the New Zealand memorial at Cite Bonjean in Armentières, Nord, France.

William Joseph Bellamy was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.

Resources

William Joseph Bellamy. Military personnel file. Archives New Zealand.

William Joseph Bellamy. Online cenotaph record. Auckland War Memorial Museum.

References

Prisoners of War, Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 129, 31 May 1917, p.7.

Roll of Honour, Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 101, 1 May 1917, p.5.

For King and Empire, Sun, Volume III, Issue 775, 4 August 1916, p.6.

Obituary, Star, Issue 17069, 16 June 1923, p.1.