BELLAMY, LEONARD NOEL PETER Rank: Private Service No: 14761 Date of Death: 27/11/1941 Age: 25 Regiment/Service: New Zealand Infantry 26th Bn. Grave Reference 14. D. 3. Cemetery KNIGHTSBRIDGE WAR CEMETERY, ACROMA Additional Information: Son of James Dann Bellamy and of Mabel Jessie Bellamy (nee Bannatyne), of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2096067/BELLAMY,%20LEONARD%20NOEL%20PETER
If I'm reading the unit history correctly, the 26th were in a rest camp at the time of his death. Unfortunate accident or possibly died of wounds sustained in the earlier fighting? On 20 November 6 Brigade left Mersa Matruh to rejoin the Division. The journey to the divisional camp site near Sidi Azeiz was made in easy stages. A late start was made on the 20th and the columns travelled only 16 miles before halting for the night. Seventy-eight miles were covered the next day, and about 3 p.m. on the 23rd the camp came into view. It was nothing to enthuse over—just another piece of desert. During the next few days efforts were made to improve conditions in the camp. Semi-permanent living quarters and cooking establishments were set up and roads and tracks levelled and improved. Football and hockey grounds were also prepared. Twelve days were spent here, and as soon as the necessary equipment arrived from Maadi sport took up most of the time. http://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/leonard-noel-peter-bellamy
I don't think you are reading it correct though, since you are looking at 1942, not 1941. 6 Brigade was in battle from 23 November onwards. http://rommelsriposte.com/2008/12/14/totensonntag-the-experience-of-6-new-zealand-brigade/ On 26 November 26 Battalion was one of the force attacking the ridge overlooking the Sidi Rezegh mosque in the famous night attack on Trieste's Bersaglieri battalion, and the battalion suffered heavy casualties in the attack. 23 KIA outright, 61 WIA of whom 9 DOW later. http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-26Ba-c5.html#reference-to-fn1-111 Chapter 5 Page 112 All the best Andreas
I don't think you are reading it correct though, since you are looking at 1942, not 1941. Woops - I shouldn't post anything when I'm a bit tired....... Thanks Andreas - your post makes a lot more sense than mine
