Illustrated Chronicle 1916
Illustrated Chronicle 1915
He was born in Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland on the 16th February 1881, the eldest son of Everard Dunstan Bellairs of 4 Paley Street, Sunderland. p>He had enlisted with his brother E. D. Bellairs and had served eight years in India.
His other J. H. Bellairs brother also served.
On the outbreak of war he re-joined and was killed in the Battle of Aisne 20th September 1914, North of the village of Troyon.
On this day the German launched an attack against the Moroccans, who were located on the British right flank. Moroccans fell back which exposed the British flank. The 1st West Yorkshire regiment moved one of its companies to cover this flank.
Meanwhile, the Moroccans had rallied, and did not know that the British had occupied their former positions. Two more attacks came in from the Germans which resulted in the Moroccan positions being occupied and heavy enfiladed fire was inflicting heavy casualties on the British positions, there was also a German charge which resulted in the company being captured.
This exposed the 2nd DLI to a very heavy fire. The fall back of the West Yorkshire company was due to the Germans showing a white flag, and in the act of surrendering, however, as the Yorks went forward the Germans opened fire on them with a Machine gun.
Research: James Pasby
