Captain Bill Bellamy, (1 December 1923 – 18 March 2009) was an officer in the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars between 1943 and 1955. He served briefly with his regiment in the North African Campaign and extensively in Northern Europe as part of the D Day landings. His book, Troop Leader: A Tank Commander's Story is an example of the experiences of front-line tank warfare in the Second World War based on his diary of the events that happened. He was one of the first British soldiers to be able to wander unhindered in the ruins of Berlin's government area in the immediate post cease fire period of 1945. On 5 March 1945, Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery presented him with the Military Cross for his bravery during the battle for the hamlet of Doornhoek, near Berlicum in the Netherlands during October 1944. Under heavy German machine-gun, mortar and shell fire, and in a minefield, he retrieved his burning tank and crew before overrunning the enemy's position to allow infantrymen to advance. Early life Lionel Gale "Bill" Bellamy was born on 1 December 1923 in Northampton, the only son of Captain Ronald Vincent Bellamy and Olive Helen Gale of Shaldon, Devonshire. His father, Ronald, was a salesman who served in France during the First World War and later became a prisoner of war (POW) in the North African campaign during the Second World War. His mother, Olive, was a dress designer. He attended Hawthorn Community Primary School in Kettering, then Blackfriars (Dominican) boarding school in nearby Laxton at the age of 11. During his time there he converted to Catholicism. He always believed his faith had given him strength to endure combat. Military career Bellamy received his call-up when he turned 18, which disrupted his plans to go to a university. He signed up in December 1941, to the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) after being assured by the recruiting sergeant that he could serve with his father in the 1st Armoured Division and was sent to training at the 58th Training Regiment (RAC) at Bovington Camp in Dorset. It was at this time Bellamy received nickname 'Bill'. The other men in his billet introduced themselves and he became embarrassed, believing he could receive mocking if it was known his name was Lionel. He, instead, stated it was Bill and this stuck for the rest of his life. Commissioning During training