The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) M.B.E.; 1914-15 Star (ENGR. T.E. BELLIS. M.F.A.); British War Medal (ENGR. T.E. BELLIS. M.F.A.); Victory Medal (ENGR. T.E. BELLIS. M.F.A.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45 - unnamed as awarded.
Thomas Bellis OBE was born in Liverpool 29.8.1889. Having decided on a nautical career, he joined the crew of the S.S. Konakry as 4th Engineer, signing on for a foreign-going voyage on 23 February 1911. On his return, he attended a number of courses and, having qualified, carried on with the Pacific Line. On 23.11.1914 he applied for examination as a First Class Engineer (Steam). Very little is known about his WWI career with most Merchant Navy files for the period 1915-18 having been destroyed.
With the outbreak of WWII he was serving aboard the SS Delius as Chief Engineer. During the Norwegian campaign in early 1940 the ship was in Romdalsfjord under almost continuous attack, during the 27th/28th April, by German Stuka dive bombers. On 13.11.1943 German agents reported the sailing of Convoy MKS 30 from Gibraltar. The next day the convoy merged with Convoy SL139, making up a 66 ship convoy escorted by the 40th Escort Group. During the next 2 days the convoy's progress was tracked by Luftwaffe aircraft and the U-Boat Wolfpack "Schill1" during the night of 18/19 November to a point just off Lisbon ready to attack.
Over the next two days the convoy was under bombardment from above and below with the SS Delius (Bellis's ship) being hit immediately in front of the bridge.
He was awarded OBE as Chief Engineer of the S.S. Samdak, Moss Hutchison Line which appeared in the LG 9.1.1946, issue 37412 page 276.
Bellis died on 14.7.1969
