Bellamy, William (No. 6983155)

Bellamy, William (Billy)

Fusilier

No. 6983155, 70th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Died as a result of enemy action on Wednesday 16 April 1941 (aged 28)

Buried:

Sutton-in-Ashfield Cemetery, Nottinghamshire, England

(Section C. Grave 7629)

Commemorated:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

War Memorial Garden, Newtownards

Sutton-in-Ashfield War Memorial

BIOGRAPHY

William (Billy) Bellamy’s birth was registered in the second quarter of 1912 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and he was a son of William and Mary Ellen Bellamy (nee Beasley).  William Bellamy was a boot and shoemaker and his marriage to Mary Ellen Beasley was registered in the fourth quarter of 1899 in Mansfield.  They had at least three children:

Ethel May (born around 1901)

Albert Edward (born around 1903)

William (Billy, born 1912)

Fusilier William (Billy) Bellamy (No. 6983155) was one of 13 soldiers serving with the 70th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers who died as a result of an air raid on Newtownards aerodrome during the night of 15/16 April 1941.

Between 10.45 pm on Easter Tuesday 15 April and 4.30 am on Wednesday 16 April 1941 there was a large-scale German Luftwaffe air raid on the City of Belfast.  Other nearby towns and villages, including Bangor and Newtownards, were also attacked.  Areas of Bangor where bombs fell included Ashley Gardens, Bangor Golf Clubhouse, Baylands, Farnham Road, Hazeldene Gardens and Ranfurly Avenue.  Fires blazed on Scrabo Hill, Newtownards and bombs fell on Green Road, Conlig and Comber Road, Newtownards.  At least 29 people with North Down and Ards connections were killed, including the following 15 civilians.

  • Matilda Grattan together with her daughters Angeline Grattan and Shelagh Grattan who died at 40 Ashley Gardens in Bangor.
  • Margaret Byers Watt who died at 5 Hazeldene Gardens in Bangor.
  • Robert Wright of 32 Baylands, Bangor who died of his injuries in Bangor Hospital.
  • Edith, Henry, Isabella and William Dunwoody; Nancy Simms Gribbin; Thomas Morton; Bessie and Ellen Ogle; William Henry Taggart and Evelyn Tate who all died in Belfast.

That night the aerodrome at Newtownards, which was the Headquarters of 231 Squadron, Royal Air Force was attacked.  The aerodrome was guarded by soldiers of the 70th (Young Soldiers) Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, some of whom were too young for front line service and were deployed instead on the home front.  Newtownards aerodrome was attacked with a considerable number of incendiary bombs and some high explosive bombs.  One high explosive bomb that fell on the hutments of ‘A’ Company Headquarters killed 13 men, all of whom served with the 70th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.  Most were killed instantly, and the remainder died the following day as a result of their injuries:

  • Fusilier William Bellamy (aged 28)
  • Fusilier Samuel Burke (aged 18)
  • Lance Corporal Alexander Carlisle
  • Fusilier Andrew Copling (aged 16)
  • Fusilier Hugh Fulton (aged 17)
  • Fusilier George Graham
  • Fusilier Daniel Higgins
  • Fusilier Leslie Love (aged 34)
  • Fusilier Samuel McFarland (aged 19)
  • Company Quartermaster Sergeant William McMurray (aged 27)
  • Fusilier Ernest McNeill (aged 17)
  • Warrant Officer Class II Alfred Penfold (aged 36)
  • Fusilier Matthew Wright (aged 18)

The casualties were all taken to Ards District Hospital in Newtownards.

There was another casualty with an Ards connection who died during the night of 15/16 April 1941.  Flight Lieutenant Wilfrid Mark Hamilton Brookes (aged 23) of 231 Squadron who was in Belfast at the time was killed during the air raid.

Fusilier William (Billy) Bellamy (No. 6983155) was buried in Sutton-in-Ashfield Cemetery, Nottinghamshire on 21 April 1941 and in the burial register his address was recorded as 56 St. Michael Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield.  On his CWGC headstone there is an inscription:

DEEP IN OUR HEARTS

A MEMORY IS KEPT

OF ONE WE LOVED

AND WILL NEVER FORGET

Billy’s friends from Eastfield Side (an area of Sutton-in-Ashfield also known as Sutton Forest Side) placed a separate plaque on his grave as a token of their respect.  There were no other family members buried in the grave.  Fusilier William (Billy) Bellamy (No. 6983155) was 28 years old when he died, and he is commemorated on Sutton-in-Ashfield War Memorial.

On Monday 5 March 2012 a memorial to the 13 soldiers of the 70th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers who were killed during the air raid on Newtownards aerodrome was unveiled and dedicated in the War Memorial Garden, Newtownards.