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Laurence Roy Bellingham - Information

When Laurence Bellingham decided to join the AIF, he was working as a packer and living on Australia St in Newtown with his family. Laurence was 18, when he signed up at the Royal Showground Camp on the 11th of September 1916. He was born in Camden, and had completed four years military experience in the Cadet Force. Before, Laurence was sent overseas for war service, the Bellinghams relocated to Holly St in Bowral. Laurence commenced his training at the Royal Showground Camp, Dubbo Depot and Liverpool Camp. He was posted to various units, before becoming part of the 8th Reinforcements, 33rd Battalion in mid June 1917. He then boarded the HMAT Port Melbourne in Sydney on the 16th of July 1917.

Laurence arrived in Liverpool, England in mid September, and was marched into the 9th Training Battalion at Durrington. In January 1918, Laurence was sent to the Western Front in France and taken on strength to the 33rd Battalion. Shortly, after settling in the frontlines, he was wounded in action on the 10th of April near Villers-Bretonneux. He was injured by shell shrapnel, tearing the flesh of his shoulder, buttocks and leg. After initial treatment, Laurence was evacuated to England, admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital in Edgbaston. Laurence’s wounds were severe, and he was consequently invalided home on the 19th of October 1918, due to severe damage to his left scapula (shoulder blade). He returned to his grateful family in Bowral.