210989 Lt.Col. Charles Christopher Grattan-Bellew MC,MIDBritish Army 3rd Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps from:Mount Bellew, Dublin On the 27th Feb 1908, Sir Charles Christopher Grattan-Bellew, cadet of the Royal Military Collage Sandhurst, was granted a commission as second Lieutenant in the 3rd battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps based in Crete. The 3rd soon moved to Malta in 1909 and then onto Daghsa in India. Followlng Sir Charles promotion to Lieutenant he was seconded to the Colonial Office on the 21st June 1911,employed as an officer with the Gold Coast Regiment ,this was a popular secondment with officers of the KRRC looking for action. On the 31st July 1914 the British Colonial Administration in Accra mobilised it's military forces entering Tongoland from the Gold Coast,where on the & August a German led Police force opened fire on the British troops,who returned fire with the first shots of the first world war.By the 26th August Tongoland surrendered. Sir Charles stayed with the force until his promotion on the 30th April 1915,then he returned to the KRRC as a casualty replacement in France. Now with the 4th Battalion 80th Brigade,in the 27th division,taking part in the second battle of Yepes.On the 19 November the division sailed from Marcelle to Solonica, to make up a Franco-British force.Sir Charles served with the 4th until the 1st October 1916 were he was appointed a General Staff Officer 3rd class.On the 29th March 1917, Sir Charles is mentioned in despatches by Lt General G F Milne,ironically 5 days after his brother, Major William Grattan-Bellew Royal Flying Corps was Killed. By the 14 August 1917 Sir Charles was promoted to Brigade Major,and on the 25th Feb awarded the Military Cross, for Distinguished Military Service during operations in Solonica.On the 3rd June he was promoted to Brevet Major in recognition of distinguished service. In December Sir Charles rejoined the 4th in Belgium,and by the 23rd April 1921, now serving with the 1st battalion he gained his last promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.
During WW2 Sir Charles was recalled to service and commanded troop ships for the entire war.On the 5th Feb Sir Charles ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers,so ending a long and distinguished career.
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