| Birth: | Jul. 15, 1889 | | Death: | Jun. 3, 1953 | 
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. A native of Surbiton, Surrey, In civilian life before the war Belcher was employed in the antiques department of Waring & Gillow, well-known furniture makers. He was also a member of a cyclist volunteer corps in the Territorial Army and used Waring & Gillow’s private range to practice his shooting, winning a silver cup in 1908. In August 1914 he enlisted in the 1/5th Battalion of The London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) and went to France as a Lance-Sergeant. Belcher was awarded the V.C. for action near St. Julien, Belgium, May 13, 1915, at a position aptly named Shell Trap Farm -– it was estimated that during this engagement German shells were falling there at the rate of 100 per minute. From Belcher’s citation: “On the early morning of 13 May 1915, when in charge of a portion of an advanced breastwork south of the Wieltje-St Julien Road, during a very fierce and continuous bombardment by the enemy which frequently blew in the breastwork, L/Sergt Belcher, with a mere handful of men, elected to remain and endeavour to hold his position after the troops near him had been withdrawn. By his skill and great gallantry he maintained his position during the day, opening rapid fire on the enemy, who were only 150 to 200 yards distant, whenever he saw them collecting for an attack. There is little doubt that the bold front shown by L/Sergt Belcher prevented the enemy breaking through on the Wieltje Road, and averted an attack on the flank of one of the divisions.” The “mere handful” referred to started out as a remnant of 18 from the original two platoons, and by the end of the action had been reduced to five. The five held the position for nine hours until they were relieved. Belcher was commissioned in 1916 and stayed in the Army after the war, serving in Mesopotamia (Iraq) during the Arab rising of 1921 and later in Burma. He retired in 1922 as a captain. He suffered from poor health after his service with what was then called neurasthenia and today would be called depression. When World War II broke out Belcher rejoined the London Rifle Brigade, but was invalided out after a bad fall in May 1940. He passed away six weeks short of his 64th birthday in Claygate, Surrey. His medals are on display at the Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester. (bio by: Paul F. Wilson)
Search Amazon for Douglas Belcher | | | Burial:
Holy Trinity Churchyard
Claygate
Surrey, England |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Jan 09, 2005
Find A Grave Memorial# 10295149 |
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