BELLESMITH, Claude Eustace
NAME BELLESMITH Claude Eustace
RANK Corporal 3241
REGIMENT I Canadian Corps - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - 1st Infantry Brigade Royal Canadian Regiment "for country" Royal Canadian Infantry Corps BORN October 12, 1916 - New Westminster - British Columbia DIED December 20, 1943 27 years 2 months CEMETERY Moro River Canadian War Cemetery - San Donato – Ortona - Chieti - Italy
V11 B 3
Wife Mrs. Mildred Etta Bellesmith - Listowel / Barrie - Ontario Son Wayne Bellsmith of Listowel / Barrie Brother Mr. John Bellsmith of Oakland,California, USA Sister Mrs. Alexa Bennett of Oakland, California, USA
Claude was born on October 12, 1916 in New Westminster in British Columbia and at some point when he was young his family moved to Huron County. He left school at the age of 16 following his completion of grade X. He was employed as a farmer prior to his enlistment. He was raised as a Presbyterian.
Canada
Claude enlisted in London on October 19, 1939 into the Royal Canadian Regiment and at that time he stood 5' 10" tall and weighed 132 pounds. He had a medium complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair. On November 8th he was married.
Overseas
He was Struck off Service of the Canadian Army in Canada on December 18 and embarked for overseas from Halifax. The following day while at sea he was Taken on Strength with the Canadian Army Overseas. He disembarked at Gourock in Scotland on December 30th. Private Bellsmith had a Leave of Absence between January 11-15. One June 13, 1940 the 1st Infantry Brigade embarked from Plymouth, England and disembarked in Brest, France on June 14th. A day later on the 15th they embarked from Brest and returned to Plymouth on June 17th. The 1st Brigade was part of Operation Aerial and were attached to the British Expeditionary Force. They moved from Brest toward Le Mans by rail but at the same time German forces entered Paris and the French requested an armistice resulting in the immediate withdrawing of the 1st Brigade. Private Bellsmith received Leave from June 27-30 and privileged leave between December 17-24. Training continued into 1941 and between Mar 6-13 he received privileged leave and again between June 3-10. Between July 15-August 31 Private Bellsmith was attached to the 1st Division Headquarters. On August 19 he was attached to the Machine Gun Holding Unit for Rations and Quarters. While in training he was admitted to No 9 Field Ambulance between September 1-4. Between September 17-24 he was on leave and between December 15-22 he was on leave. The training was continuing as 1942 arrived and he received leave between February 9-16 and between April 15-22. He then was sent to the 1st Division WTAPT School between July 23-August 3 and while there was admitted to No. 4 Field Ambulance between August 1-2. Private Bellsmith received leave between July 15-22 and then privileged leave between October 26-November 4, 1942. The Canadians were still training into 1943 when he received privileged leave between February 1-10.
In the field
At the beginning of summer on June 28th the training of 3 1/2 years was finished and he was Struck off Strength of the Canadian Army in the United Kingdom and embarked from the Scottish ports of the Clyde River with the 1st Canadian Division. One day later he was Taken on Strength with the Canadian Army in the Mediterranean Theatre. and disembarked onto the beaches of Sicily during the invasion of the island on July 10. Once he was ashore he was given the rank of Lance Corporal. Lance Corporal Bellsmith was involved in the fighting during the invasion of Sicily, Valguarnera, Agire, Adrano, Regalbuto, the invasion of Italy, Motta Motacorvino, Campobasso, Torella, San Leonardo, the Gully and as the fight for Ortona began he would lose his like in the field. The 1st Canadian Division had been battling the enemy to secure the Ortona-Orsonga road and they were preparing to advance onto Ortona and were not expecting much enemy opposition. At mid morning on December 20th the Canadians began to cross the blown bridge on the main road and the armour crossed the Gulley and moved to the "Cider" crossroads. Ortona was only approachable from the southwest and the main coast road passed through it going to the north. The Regiment began to move toward the center of the town. Only a few roads were available to get to the town center as all else was blocked. As the Canadians neared the Square they walked into a trap and the Germans laid down a devastating crossfire from the surrounding buildings. Unknown to the RCR the Germans had hidden machine guns, mortars and anti-tank guns hidden in the buildings. It was now a death trap for the Regiment.
This was the battle for Ortona that was just beginning and the Canadians were up against two German battalions. It took 10 days to advance just 1 ½ miles and by the end of 1943, not many of the Regiment were left to continue the advance.
On February 29, 1944 Mrs. Bellsmith received the Memorial Cross and on October 17, 1949 Lance Corporal Bellsmith was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal + clasp.
