Sir Edward Bellingham, 5th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Brigadier-General Sir Edward Henry Charles Patrick Bellingham, 5th Baronet CMG
, DSO
(26 January 1879 – 19 May 1956) was an Irish
soldier, politician and finally diplomat.
. He was educated at The Oratory School
and went then to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
. In 1921, he succeeded his father as baronet.
He fought with his regiment in the Second Boer War
and after short time was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal
. In 1902 he received the King's South Africa Medal
together with three clasps. During the First World War Bellingham was wounded and mentioned in despatches three times. He was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order
in 1916 and was promoted to major in 1917, while serving as temporary brigadier-general. In the New Year's Honours 1918, he was invested as a Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
and a year later he was advanced to a brevet lieutenant-colonel. He retired in 1922.
Bellingham was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Louth
in 1921, a post he held for only one year until the establishment of the Irish Free State
. In 1925, he was elected to the Seanad Éireann
, in which he sat until its abolishment in 1936. With the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Royal Air Force
. He was promoted to a flight officer in 1941 and later led a squadron. After the war he served in the Commission of Control in Germany until 1947. In his last years he was vice-consul at the British embassy in Guatemala
.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(26 January 1879 – 19 May 1956) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
soldier, politician and finally diplomat.
Background and education
Bellingham was the eldest son of Sir Alan Henry Bellingham, 4th Baronet and his wife Lady Constance Noel, the second daughter of Charles Noel, 2nd Earl of GainsboroughCharles Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough
Charles George Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough , styled Viscount Campden between 1841 and 1866, was a British peer and Whig politician.-Background:...
. He was educated at The Oratory School
The Oratory School
The Oratory School is a Roman Catholic, independent school for boys in Woodcote, Berkshire. It is the last Catholic all-boys boarding school remaining in Great Britain. It has approximately 420 pupils...
and went then to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. In 1921, he succeeded his father as baronet.
Career
In 1899, Bellingham was commissioned as ensign into The Royal ScotsThe Royal Scots
The Royal Scots , once known as the Royal Regiment of Foot, was the oldest, and therefore most senior, infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of Scotland...
He fought with his regiment in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
and after short time was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal
Queen's South Africa Medal
The Queen's South Africa Medal was awarded to military personnel who served in the Boer War in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Units from the British Army, Royal Navy, colonial forces who took part , civilians employed in official capacity and war correspondents...
. In 1902 he received the King's South Africa Medal
King's South Africa Medal
The King's South Africa Medal was awarded to all troops who served in the Boer War in South Africa on or after 1 January 1902, and completed 18 months service before 1 June 1902. The medal was not issued alone but always with the Queen's South Africa Medal or QSA.The KSA was awarded only to those...
together with three clasps. During the First World War Bellingham was wounded and mentioned in despatches three times. He was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in 1916 and was promoted to major in 1917, while serving as temporary brigadier-general. In the New Year's Honours 1918, he was invested as a Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
and a year later he was advanced to a brevet lieutenant-colonel. He retired in 1922.
Bellingham was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Louth
Lord Lieutenant of Louth
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Louth. The office was created on 23 August 1831.*Patrick Bellew, 1st Baron Bellew 9 December 1831 – 10 December 1866*John McClintock, 1st Baron Rathdonnell 14 January 1867 – 17 April 1879...
in 1921, a post he held for only one year until the establishment of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
. In 1925, he was elected to the Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann (Irish Free State)
Seanad Éireann was the upper house of the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State from 1922–1936. It has also been known simply as the Senate, or as the First Seanad. The Senate was established under the 1922 Constitution of the Irish Free State but a number of constitutional amendments were...
, in which he sat until its abolishment in 1936. With the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He was promoted to a flight officer in 1941 and later led a squadron. After the war he served in the Commission of Control in Germany until 1947. In his last years he was vice-consul at the British embassy in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
.