Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Western Front D.C.M. group of three awarded to Able Seaman J. J. Bellamy, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division, who shortly afterwards died of wounds in September 1918 died of wounds

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (TZ-7755 A.B. J. J. Bellamy. Hood Bn: R.N.V.R.); British War and Victory Medals (T.Z. 7755 J. J. Bellamy. A.B. R.N.V.R.) the B.W.M. erased but for prefix ‘T.Z.’, rank, and unit, good very fine (3) £800-£1,200

D.C.M. London Gazette 16 January 1919:

‘He was acting as “runner” to the company commander during an attack NW of Achiet-le-Petit, on 21st August 1918, and working with great gallantry and complete disregard for danger in country swept by shell and machine-gun fire he rendered services of great value. In company with another man he located and captured an enemy machine-gun, disposing of the crew. By his courage and initiative he saved many wounded men by getting them to places of safety in spite of heavy fire.’

James Joseph Bellamy was born on 12 September 1897, and enlisted into the Tyneside Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 18 October 1915. He joined the Hood Battalion as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in February 1916, was detached to 189th Brigade Light Trench Mortar Battery, August to November 1916, and was invalided to England suffering from pyrexia on 5 December 1916. He rejoined the Hood Battalion, now part of the B.E.F. in France, on 27 August 1917, being once again detached to the 189th Brigade L.T.M. Battery from August 1917 to March 1918, and from May to July 1918, before rejoining the Hood Battalion on 15 August 1918. He died of gunshot wounds in 8th General Hospital, Rouen, on 7 September 1918, and is buried in Boisguillaume Communal Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.