GNR Frank Bellamy no 2 troop 2.

Gunner Frank Bellamy served in no 2 commandos troop 2. My grandmother used to say he was batman to the duke of wellington we are unsure of this.
He talked about sleeping on matteresses in sicily and waking up covered in lice. He kept most of his time in ww2 to himself as he found it too upsetting. I am trying to find any snippet of information on him. If anybody knew a relative in this troop and knew him please let me know.
He passed away in 1994 I was just 5 years old but I do have memories of him. I would like to try and piece together his time in ww2. I am currently filling out the forms for service records but in the mean time trying to research which I am finding it to be fruitless. Am I right in saying they wont release info on him to national archives until 25 years after his death? Any tips and useful info would be greatly received.

Noellie

Hello Noellie

Was your grandfather married at the time of his military service in the Commandos? I have a reference to a Gnr Bellamy with 2 next of kin addresses. Which area of the UK did he live in, or grew up in ?

As regards service records, if the nearest next of kin applies for the service record, or gives consent to the application by a third party, then a full copy of the record will be provided. Anyone else will only be provided with limited detail for a period of 25 years after the death of an individual..

Here is the link to the information on Service Records with a section relevant to your question transcribed below it:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

Request for service records of deceased service personnel
Under the scheme, and in recognition of the duty of care owed to the family of the deceased subject, for a period of 25 years following the date of death of the subject and without the consent of the next of kin, MOD will disclose only:

surname
forename
rank
service number
regiment/corps
place of birth
age
date of birth
date of death where this occurred in service
the date an individual joined the service
the date of leaving
good conduct medals (for example, Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (LS&GCM)), any orders of chivalry and gallantry medals (decorations of valour) awarded, some of which may have been announced in the London Gazette.

The administration fee of £30 will be waived for requests from those who were the spouse or civil partner of the subject at the time of death (or parent if there was no spouse or civil partner).

Where the consent of the immediate next of kin has been given for its release to a third party, the 25 year threshold will not apply allowing the release of all the information available under the publication scheme at any time, subject to the payment of an administration fee of £30 per record and the provision of a death certificate (except where death was in service).

I look forward to your answer to my question above.

Pete

See also the original message posted on the forum by Noellie here : http://forum.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/4982.page

He was not married at the time. He met my grandmother on leave (which is a great story). He lived in Dartmouth, Devon. I really hope this could be him.

Many thanks for taking the time to look for me.

Okay well that clears things up a bit. I believe the reference I have does relate to your Grandfather. I have the full address but if I say his mother lived in cottages in Victoria Road, Dartmouth and your Grandmother lived in Kidderminster ?

My dad has just confirmed that my grandfather didn't meet my grandmother until after the war. My dad said Victoria road sounds familiar but he is unsure of Kidderminster. My grandfather had 6 sisters older than him so could of been on of them. Do you have names for next of kin?

I am currently looking on my family tree and gathering info from there they did live on Clarence hill in 1911 but may have moved.

I can confirm it was Victoria road but still unsure of Kidderminster. If you do have names I could write out the ones I have to see if they match. I know one of his sisters moved away to America and one lived in somerset. My dad wasn't born until 1956 so he only knew 3/4 of his aunties.

Thank you so much Pete it really does mean the world to me.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 09/11/2015 23:40:03

Hi Noellie,

The handwritten list of names and detail I have was compiled sometime after the war so the reference to his wife should be taken in that context. The details are as follows:

1580169 Gunner Bellamy,RA (S/L) 1943

which means he volunteered for and was then attached to No 2 Commando whilst serving in, or having served in, a Royal Artillery (searchlight unit). I have checked the Service number shown and it is confirmed as part of a group issued to those who served in a Royal Artillery (Field , Coastal, and Anti Aircaft) 1 unit. The date of 1943 is likely to be year he joined No 2 Commando. In March 1943 No 2 Commando sailed from the UK for Gibraltar and later were involved in operations in Sicily, Italy, Albania, and the Dalmatian Islands, in 1944 operating from the island of Vis. Some individuals and small groups also took part in operations in other places during this period. The record then gives the addresses of his wife and his mother but no names.

I should point out that these are not official records but notes I have been provided with compiled by some involved closely with No 2 Commando after the war, whom I have every faith in. I am not able to publish them at this stage. I have found the notes in the past to be very accurate, however as with anything, errors can happen. We have to work with what we have available at this time.

If you email me I will provide you with the full addresses shown.

My dad said it was about 1942 when he joined the commandos. You do have a photograph in the archives of no 2 commandos troop 2 which is dated december 1942. My grandfather spoke of the duke of wellington stating that he lead by example. My grandmother also said he was batman to the duke. I do know that they got married in 1950. When they met, there was still a chocolate ration so it couldn't of been that long after. My dad recalls him talking about the royal artillery but which battalion I do not know.

Thank you so much for helping me on my quest.

Noellie,
I have attached your grandfather's entry in the Royal Artillery attestation book. It confirms his full name and that he enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1938. It also lists when he left the Army.
Guy

Hi Noellie

I have replied to your email. The service record will confirm dates of attachments and many other things. Let me know when you receive it. In the meantime if you have a photo of your Grandfather please post it here. Now I see the attachment you have posted, that clarifies my question in my email to you. You will note the service number and section of the RA (S/L) are the same as the one on my record. So we are sure now they are one and the same.

Best wishes

Pete

GUY wrote:Noellie,
I have attached your grandfather's entry in the Royal Artillery attestation book. It confirms his full name and that he enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1938. It also lists when he left the Army.
Guy

That is fantastic thank you so much it is really appreciated.

Where do you find all this information? I've tried everywhere and never found a hint until I came across this fantastic website and found a photograph.

Noellie

Pete wrote:Hi Noellie

I have replied to your email. The service record will confirm dates of attachments and many other things. Let me know when you receive it. In the meantime if you have a photo of your Grandfather please post it here. Now I see the attachment you have posted, that clarifies my question in my email to you. You will note the service number and section of the RA (S/L) are the same as the one on my record. So we are sure now they are one and the same.

Best wishes

Pete

I have sent an email before reading these posts. This is great I have now finally got some solid information. Thank you both for helping me.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 11/11/2015 15:46:36

Where do you find all this information? I've tried everywhere and never found a hint until I came across this fantastic website and found a photograph.

Hi Noellie

That's the beauty of this website. The vast majority of the nigh on 10,000 images in our gallery are from Commando Veterans and/or their families. The information on our website comes from a variety of different sources not least of which are as above with the images, but also documents and newsletters from the original Commando Association. An example of how our website followers help is that of the contribution in this post by Guy. A great deal of time and effort by volunteers compiling nominal rolls, rolls of honour, and other general information, has resulted in this website being such a valuable free source of information and facts about Commandos and Commando History.

Keep us informed of what you find out from the record.

I sure will. I am going to order a death certificate over the next few days which will take a couple of weeks.

Its a fantastic website. I don't know what I would have done without it. Especially finding the photograph of him.

Once again I thank you for your help and hope to get back to you in the not too distant future.

Noellie