Bill Bellamy

Captain Bill Bellamy, (1 December 1923 – 18 March 2009) was an officer in the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars between 1943 and 1955. He served briefly with his regiment in the North African Campaign and extensively in Northern Europe as part of the D Day landings. His book, Troop Leader: A Tank Commander's Story is an example of the experiences of front-line tank warfare in the Second World War based on his diary of the events that happened.

He was one of the first British soldiers to be able to wander unhindered in the ruins of Berlin's government area in the immediate post cease fire period of 1945. On 5 March 1945, Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery presented him with the Military Cross for his bravery during the battle for the hamlet of Doornhoek, near Berlicum in the Netherlands during October 1944. Under heavy German machine-gun, mortar and shell fire, and in a minefield, he retrieved his burning tank and crew before overrunning the enemy's position to allow infantrymen to advance.

Early life Lionel Gale "Bill" Bellamy was born on 1 December 1923 in Northampton, the only son of Captain Ronald Vincent Bellamy and Olive Helen Gale of Shaldon, Devonshire. His father, Ronald, was a salesman who served in France during the First World War and later became a prisoner of war (POW) in the North African campaign during the Second World War. His mother, Olive, was a dress designer. He attended Hawthorn Community Primary School in Kettering, then Blackfriars (Dominican) boarding school in nearby Laxton at the age of 11. During his time there he converted to Catholicism. He always believed his faith had given him strength to endure combat.

Military career Bellamy received his call-up when he turned 18, which disrupted his plans to go to a university. He signed up in December 1941, to the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) after being assured by the recruiting sergeant that he could serve with his father in the 1st Armoured Division and was sent to training at the 58th Training Regiment (RAC) at Bovington Camp in Dorset.

It was at this time Bellamy received nickname 'Bill'. The other men in his billet introduced themselves and he became embarrassed, believing he could receive mocking if it was known his name was Lionel. He, instead, stated it was Bill and this stuck for the rest of his life. In the company of a friend he applied successfully to Brigadier John Van der Byl DSO for selection as a cornet in the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars. He eventually made his way to Kasra-nil Barracks, Cairo where he joined the regiment under the command of Colonel Cuthie Goulburn. The hussars then sailed to England to begin training for D-Day and were embarked for France with the 7th Armoured Division.

D-Day to Berlin

Initially, Bellamy was placed in charge of an echelon, meaning he had to escort his group of supply vehicles to various supply depots to replenish stock used by the regiment. During the Battle of Villers-Bocage, his jeep ran into retreating German infantry and was hit by sub-machine gun fire. Bellamy was wounded in the head but after receiving seven stitches stayed at his post. After Villers-Bocage, a squadron required re-organisation, and Bellamy was assigned as troop leader of 3rd Troop. He took over as commander of his own Cromwell Tank, one of three in the troop.

On his first day in command of 3rd Troop, he chanced upon two British armoured cars from the 61st Reconnaissance Regiment. As they approached him, they were hit by fire from a well concealed enemy gun. Dismounting his own vehicle, Bellamy approached the two destroyed armoured cars and rescued several members of the crews whom he found alive in the wrecked and gore-streaked interiors.

Into Germany

Bellamy was given a leave to return to England upon the untimely death of his mother who was killed by a V-2 rocket in London. Whilst there he was hospitalised for a bout of recurring jaundice which had dogged him since his time in Egypt. His own opinion was that this was timely as he had been advised by fellow officers that he had become "bomb happy" and was intentionally placing himself in the most dangerous of situations without concern for his safety or that of his tank crew. which provides housing and support for vulnerable adults. He was also an active supporter of the Cynthia Spencer Hospice in Northampton, named after the current Earl of Spencer's grandmother, and raised £30,000 for the hospice by trekking across Cuba in 2005, at the age of 81. Ann died in 2001 and Bill got remarried to Felicity Sidders in 2007. Bill Bellamy was also the "adopted" grandfather to two Palestinian students after financing a trip to England as part of their studies. His wartime diary and photographs remained in his attic for forty years until he rediscovered them and decided to write up his wartime experiences for his children. A publisher persuaded him to publish them, as Troop Leader, A Tank Commander's Story in 2005. He died of cancer at Barnstaple, Devon on 18 March 2009.