Bellia, Francis

Gosford District Casualties of World War One Bellia, Francis Service Number 7209 Killed in Action 17th April 1918 France

Gosford City Council gratefully acknowledges the voluntary efforts of Benalyn Campbell And Vivienne Tranter in compiling this resource

The information in this file has been extracted from official records held in the The Australian War Memorial and National Archives of Australia (ÂŠ Commonwealth of Australia [National Archives of Australia] 2013) Further information on this soldier may be found online at: Commonwealth War Graves The AIF project Content advisory: This file may potentially contain disturbing accounts of service-related injury and death, disease and family grief. Adult supervision is recommended for children using these resources. Individual files should be viewed within the context provided by wider research on service conditions in the 1 st AIF. This resource is presented by Gosford City Council for research purposes only. Please note that copyright for resources contained within remains with the original copyright owners.

NAME

Bellia- Francis

SERVICE NO

7209

UNIT

1st Battalion (24th Reinforcements)

RANK DATE OF BIRTH/AGE

27 yrs 4 mths

PLACE OF BIRTH

Valetta, Malta

ADDRESS

“Meroo” Tavestock Rd. Flemington, NSW

OCCUPATION

Driver

DATE OF ENLISTMENT

29 Jan 1917

PLACE OF ENLISTMENT

Sydney, NSW

PREVIOUS SERVICE NEXT OF KIN

Wife;- Sarah Harriett Bellia. “Meroo” Tavestock Rd. Flemington. 1930 @ 233 Old Canterbury Rd. Dulwich Hill.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Height-5’3½”. Weight-116lbs. Chest-32-35 Complexion-Dark. Eyes-Brown. Hair-Dark. Two moles on abdomen. Scar to groin. Birthmark & scar R side back.

RELIGION

Roman Catholic

EMBARKED

Sydney 10/2/1917 aboard the Osterley

DISEMBARKED

Plymouth 11/4/1917

WOUNDED/ILLNESS

Sick- Scabies 13/2/1918

DIED

17/4/1918

BURIED

Re-buried Meteren Military Cemetery;- Plot 4 Row K Gve 864. 10½ miles S W Ypres.

MEDALS

British War Medal-56369, Victory Medal-55449. Mem Plaque & Scroll-345225

DEPENDANTS

Widow- Sarah H, Step-son -Anderson, Albert Costly S. 2 Daughters, Bellia, Carmen Malita & Joan Mavis

PERSONAL EFFECTS

Disc & Chain, Metal Boomerang, 2 Wallets, Cards, Photos, Collection of old stamps, 1 Note Book.

WILL

CORRESPONDENCE

REMARKS

RED CROSS REPORTS Informant Signaller Moir 3624 -20/7/1918

I knew Bellia He worked under my father at David Jones, Drapers. I saw his body lying in our trenches at HQ. He had been killed instantly by a shell. I saw his grave abt 500 yrds from HQ nearer the line at a farm house, there was a regulation cross on it.

RED CROSS REPORT Informant Pte H W Mudford 3958 -24/7/1918

On April 17/18. Bellia was acting as HQ Signaller in the Meteren Sector when a piece of High Explosive shell struck him across the eye, killing him instantly.

RED CROSS REPORT Letter;-Theatre Royal Valletta, Malta 15/2/1919

Typed. Requesting information of my brother no 7209 A Coy 1 st Btn AIF Frank Bellia , rumoured to have been killed in March 1918.

Gosford Times 16.5.1918. ROLL OF HONOR. BELLIA – Killed in Action France, April 17th 1918, Signaller Frank Bellia, 1st Battalion, A.I.F., leaving a wife and three little children to mourn their sad loss. Beloved brother-in-law of Mrs J.J. Parry, Erina. He fell a hero in the deadly strife, He gave his all – his life.

Gosford Times 16.5.1918. ERINA (From our Correspondent) Mrs J.J. Parry, of Erina, received word on Saturday that her Brother-in-law, Signaller Frank Bellia, had been killed in France on 17th April, last. He left Sydney on the 19th February, 1917. A wife and three little children are left to mourn their loss.

Sydney Morning Herald 17.4.1919. P.6. BELLIA. – In sad and loving memory of my dear husband and our daddy, No. ---- Signaller F. Bellia, 1st Batt. killed in action at Metron, April 17, 1918. Short was the call he had from above, No words to his loved ones could say; He sank to rest on Metron Farm, Our daddy, so faithful and true. Inserted by his sorrowing wife and children, Albert, Carmen and Joan. BELLIA – A tribute of our love to the memory of our beloved brother-in-law, Signaller, Frank Bellia, killed in action, Metron, France, April 17, 1918. Peace, perfect peace. Ever remembered by his loving sisters, Jean and Mary.