Bellamy, John Henry

John Henry 

Bellamy

1888 - 1914
Aged26
Rank Private
Service no.15123
BirthplaceLeicester
Born December 26, 1888
DiedNovember 26, 1914

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About

About
John Henry
Bellamy

John was born on 26.12.1888 in Leicester to Joseph Charles Bellamy, an iron moulder and Alice (nee Plant). They had 4 children –
John Henry 1891
Rebecca Alice 1894
Joseph 1901
Mary Ann 1906

In 1891 census the family lived at 70 Friars Causeway and in 1901 census they had moved to 19 Pringle Street.
John attended Catherine Street School and Green Lane Council School.

John enlisted on 22.11.1907 into the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Portsmouth Division, No. 15123.
In 1911 census the family lived at 51 Farringdon Street but John was already a private aboard HMS Essex, 4th Cruiser Squadron at Palma Bay, Baliaric Islands.

John was killed on 26.11.1914 aboard HMS Bulwark –

On Thursday 26.11.1914 Bulwark was moored in the Medway Estuary when, at 7.50.a.m., a massive explosion ripped through the vessel. When the smoke cleared the ship had disappeared and 788 men had lost their lives. A court enquiry found shells and other ammunition had been stored in corridors between the magazines and that a fault with one of the shells or overheating cordite near a boiler room bulkhead could have started a chain reaction which destroyed the ship.
Most of the fatalities are named on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial but 61 whose bodies could be located and could be identified are buried at Gillingham Cemetery. PO/15123 John Henry Bellamy is one of the 61 buried.
John’s photograph is in Leicester Mercury 8.12.1914 Pg 3.
Daily Post 9.12.1914 Pg 6.

Name: John H Bella my
Leicester Mail 9.6.1915 Pg 5.