Edward Donald Bellew
Lieutenant, 7th Battalion British Columbia Regiment, C E F
- Register No.
- 81 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 7th Battalion British Columbia Regiment, C E F (register: 7th Battalion, CEF) all CEF VCs →
- Date of action
- 24 April 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 15th May 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
- Born
- 28th October 1882 at Bombay, India
- Died
- the 1st February 1961 at Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
- Memorial / grave
- its at Hillside Cemetery, Kamloops, British Columbia
Digest of citation
On 24th April 1915 near Kerselaere, Belgium, the advance of the enemy was temporarily stayed by Lieutenant Bellew, the battalion machine-gun officer, who had two guns in action on high ground when the enemy's attack broke in full force. Reinforcements which were sent forward having been destroyed, and with the enemy less than 100 yards away and no further assistance in sight, Lieutenant Bellew and a sergeant decided to fight it out. The sergeant was killed and Lieutenant Bellew wounded, nevertheless, he maintained his fire until his ammunition failed, when he seized a rifle smashed his machine gun and fighting to the last, was taken prisoner
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BELLEW, Edward Donald (Reg. No. 81)
Lieutenant 7th Battalion British Columbia Regiment, C E F.
London Gazetted on 15th May 1919.
Born on 28th October 1882 at Bombay, India.
Died on the 1st February 1961 at Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.
Memorial its at Hillside Cemetery, Kamloops, British Columbia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 24th April 1915 near Kerselaere, Belgium, the advance of the enemy was temporarily stayed by Lieutenant Bellew, the battalion machine-gun officer, who had two guns in action on high ground when the enemy's attack broke in full force. Reinforcements which were sent forward having been destroyed, and with the enemy less than 100 yards away and no further assistance in sight, Lieutenant Bellew and a sergeant decided to fight it out. The sergeant was killed and Lieutenant Bellew wounded, nevertheless, he maintained his fire until his ammunition failed, when he seized a rifle smashed his machine gun and fighting to the last, was taken prisoner.
Additional information: Promoted Captain.
Additional information
Promoted Captain
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: its at Hillside Cemetery, Kamloops, British Columbia
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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