Major Willie Grattan Bellew

Regiment: Royal Flying Corps
Date published: 04/05/1917
Killed in action: Yes
Date of death: 24/03/1917
Cemetery: Unknown, Unknown
Information: Major Willie Grattan Bellew, was born at Mount Bellew, Co. Galway, on September 15th, 1893. He was the second son of Sir Henry and Lady Sophie Grattan Bellew. He was educated at Downside School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in January, 1915, and was shortly afterwards sent out to France. In March, 1916, he was gazetted to a line commission in the Connaught Rangers, but continued serving with the Royal Flying Corps. In the following July he was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and skill on several occasions, once when, with three other machines, he attacked and drove off eight enemy machines, forcing one to the ground. On a subsequent occasion he attacked four Fokkers, forcing one down to 2,500 feet; another was seen to crash to the ground during the fight, and again, when on a bombing raid two of the machines got behind owing to clouds and were attacked by Fokkers. In September, 1915, he was promoted Major and given command of a squadron. On the 21st March he met with an accident flying in France and died on the 24th.