Cecil Magnus's Story.
Cecil Magnus Bellis
Born 1896
Baptism
Date 20 Jun 1896 St. Luke, Tranmere, Cheshire, England
Father Edward Bellis
Mother Maria Madeline Bellis nee Jones
1901 Census
Living at 5 Frodsham Street
Maria M Bellis 45
Ernest A Bellis 22
Maria M Bellis 21
Emma L Bellis 19
Edith G Bellis 17
Eva H Bellis 10
William J Bellis 8
Cecil M Bellis 4
1911 Census
33 Harland Road Hill Tranmere Birkenhead Cheshire
Maria Madeline Bellis 55
Eva Hannah Bellis 20
William John Bellis 18
Cecil Magnus Bellis 14 working as an Office Boy
Eva Madeline Eccleston 5
Military Service
Cecil joined the 1/4th Cheshire Territorial Battalion
1440 and became a Sergeant before being commissioned into the Cheshire Regiment.
THE LONDON GAZETTE, 24 SEPTEMBER, 1915. (9445)
The undermentioned to be Second Lieutenants (on probation). Dated 25th September, 1915, unless otherwise stated: —
Cecil Magnus Bellis, Cheshire Regiment.
Dated 26th July, 1915.
On The Day
The 13th Battalion, commanded by Colonel L.H.K Finch, was employed, on the 7th July, under the 12th Division against Ovillers. Jumping off trenches had been contrived from the newly-won German trenches in La Boisselle. These trenches formed a salient in the German line and our attack ran parrall to the British and German fronts, the Germans still holding trenches flanking the line of advance from La Boisselle to Ollivers. The village was below the crest from the front, but was in view from our starting line.
It had been arranged that the attack should be protected by smoke and by an intense barrage. But there was no smoke and our men thought the barrage articularly feeble. It is probable that, as the wind dropped, the smoke rose at once.
Our advance, being thus unscreened, drew heavy artillery fire. This fire, together with machine gun fire from front and flanks, stopped the attack about half way to Ovillers. The Loyal North Lancashires on our right lost heavily, the loss in Officers being particularly severe.
The 13th Battalion lost eight Officers killed, Major J.C Metcalfe, Captain and Adjutant W.E Davy, Captain F.G Hall, Lieutenants Fitzroy Somerset, H.F Stevenson, D.A Stewart, 2nd Lieutenants A.E Cotton and C.M Bellis. Colonel Finch and eleven other Officers were wounded. 243 NCO's and men were killed or wounded.
The Regimental History describes the attack
It had been arranged that the attack should be protected by smoke and by an intense barrage. But there was no smoke and our men thought the barrage particularly feeble. It is probable that, as the wind dropped, the smoke rose at once. Our advance, being thus unscreened, drew heavy artillery fire. This fire, together with machine gun fire from front and flanks, stopped the attack about half way to Ovillers.......The 13th Battalion lost eight officers killed...eleven other officers were wounded. 243 NCOs and men were killed or wounded. "
Compiled and Researched by Simon Gildea