Person Details
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Name:
Thomas Bellas
Casualty No.:
Initials:
T H
Service No.:
32103
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Middleton-in-Teesdale
Age at Death:
20
Ranks:
Corporal
Unit:
Durham Light Infantry, 23 Division, 68 Brigade, 12th Battalion
Teesdale Township:
Place Enlisted:
Newcastle
Home Address:
9 Masterman Place, Middleton-in-Teesdale; Dent Bank Farm, Middleton-in-Teesdale
Civilian Employment:
Butcher
Cause of Death:
Shell Blast
Date of Death:
20-January-1917
Place of Death:
Passchendaele
Battles & Campaigns:
Locally Commemorated:
,
UK Commemorated:
Overseas Commemorated:
Tyne Cot Memorial, France, Panel 128 to 131 and 162 and 162A
Buried:
Decoration and Medals:
,
Service :
Army
Service Records:
Death Notice/Obituary:

The Teesdale Mercury reports that his parents received word that he was killed by a shell whilst being carried of the battlefield. He died on the first day of the Battle of the Menin. 

Teesdale Mercury-10/10/1917: Upper dale notes: Killed by shell blast

Teesdale Mercury-18/09/1918: In memoriam

Family Details:

Thomas was born in Middleton to John (from Lunedale) and Elizabeth (from Newbiggin). Thomas had two brothers, Wm Mark (born in Newbiggin) and John Ed. In 1901, the family were living at 9 Masterman Place in Middleton. By 1911, the family were living at Dent Bank Farm in Middleton. 

 

Notes:

Worked as a butcher at Middleton-in-Teesdale's Co-op stores.

Teesdale Mercury-10/10/1917: Roll of Honour Notice

Teesdale Mercury-24/10/1917: Return Thanks Notices

Teesdale Mercury-27/02/1918: Upper dale notes: Remembrance service

Teesdale Mercury-22/10/1919: Notes from the higher dales: Service to dedicate marble tablet

 

Thomas enlisted on 26 November 1915 at the age of 18 years and 8 months and joined the Army Reserve on the Home Front.  He was mobilised on 8 May(?) 1916 and posted on 3 August. Embarking at Folkstone, he joined the Expeditionary Forcein France on 26 October 1916. He was posted to the DLI 12th Battalion at their base in Etaples on 10 November 1916 and joined then in the field 8 days later. His promotion to Corporal came on 18 June 1917. He was killed in action on 29 September 1917 according to his service  records although CWGC gives is date of death as 20 September.  

 

Images:
Sources:
First Name: MiT UTASS project data; DLI Collection; cwgc.org; Ancestry; Last Name: MiT UTASS project data; DLI Collection; cwgc.org; Ancestry; Initials: MiT UTASS project data; DLI Collection; cwgc.org; Ancestry; Service: MiT UTASS project data; DLI Collection; cwgc.org; Ranks: MiT UTASS project data; DLI Collection; cwgc.org; Ancestry; Service Number: MiT UTASS project data; DLI Collection; cwgc.org; Ancestry; Unit: MiT UTASS project data; DLI Collection; cwgc.org; Ancestry; Place of Birth: Ancestry; Age at Death: MiT UTASS project data;; Place Enlisted: MiT UTASS project data;; Home Address: MiT UTASS project data; Ancestry; Civilian Employment: MiT UTASS project data; Ancestry; Cause of Death: MiT UTASS project data; Teesdale Mercury; Ancestry; Date of Death Day: www.cwgc.org; Ancestry; Date of Death Month: www.cwgc.org; Ancestry; Date of Death Year: www.cwgc.org; Ancestry; Place of Death: MiT UTASS project data; Overseas Commemorated: MiT UTASS project data; DLI Collection cwgc.org; Death Notice / Obituary: Teesdale Mercury; Family Details: MiT UTASS project data; Ancestry; Notes: Teesdale Mercury; Ancestry; Campaign Medals: Ancestry; Local Memorials: www.newmp.org.uk; Teesdale Townships: Teesdale Poor Law Union 1914;
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