Douglas Walter Belcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Douglas Walter Belcher
VC
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| Born | 15 July 1889 Surbiton, Surrey |
| Died | 3 June 1953 (aged 63) Claygate, Surrey |
| Buried |
Holy Trinity Churchyard, Claygate
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom/British Empire |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1914 - 1922, 1939 - 1940 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | London Regiment King's Royal Rifle Corps Royal Army Pay Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War I
1920 Iraqi revolt World War II |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross |
Douglas Walter Belcher was a brave English soldier. He was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), which is the highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy for British and Commonwealth forces. He earned this incredible medal during World War I.
Contents
Early Life and Work
Douglas Walter Belcher was born on July 15, 1889. His hometown was Surbiton in Surrey, England. He went to Tiffin Boys School in Kingston upon Thames. Before the war, in 1914, he worked as a furniture salesman. He sold antique furniture at a store called Waring & Gillow in Oxford Street, London.
Joining the Army
In March 1913, Douglas Belcher joined the army as a volunteer. He became a Rifleman with the 5th London Regiment. This was part of the Territorial Force, a group of volunteer soldiers. When Britain declared war on August 4, 1914, he was called up for duty. This was the start of World War I.
Fighting in France
In November 1914, Douglas went to France with his regiment's 1st Battalion. He was a sergeant when he earned his Victoria Cross. This happened during the Second Battle of Ypres in May 1915.
After returning to England in mid-1915, he received his medal. King George V presented it to him at Buckingham Palace in July 1915. He was then promoted to Company Sergeant-Major. He worked as a training officer for new soldiers. In February 1916, he became a 2nd Lieutenant.
Douglas Belcher married Emily Francis Luxford in Surbiton in January 1917. He continued to serve as a training officer.
Post-War Service
After World War I, Douglas Belcher became a professional soldier. He served in the Middle East during the Iraqi Revolt in 1920. He also served in Burma. He left the British Army in 1922.
Awarded the Victoria Cross
Douglas Belcher received the Victoria Cross for his amazing bravery. He was 25 years old at the time. This happened during the 2nd Battle of Ypres in April 1915.
Why He Got the VC
The official reason for his award was published in the London Gazette. It said that on May 13, 1915, he was in charge of a small group of soldiers. They were in a trench south of the Wieltje-St. Julien Road. The enemy was bombing them very heavily, and the trench kept getting blown apart.
Even though the troops near him had to pull back, Lance-Sergeant Belcher and his few men chose to stay. They wanted to hold their position. With great skill and bravery, he held the position all day. He fired quickly at the enemy, who were only 150 to 200 yards away. He fired whenever he saw them getting ready to attack.
His brave stand likely stopped the enemy from breaking through. It also prevented an attack on the side of another British army division.
Douglas Belcher was the second soldier from the British Army's Territorial Force to receive the Victoria Cross. Lieutenant Geoffrey Woolley had received it a few days earlier during the same battle.
Other Medals
Besides the Victoria Cross, Douglas Belcher received other medals from World War I. These included the 1914 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. His Victoria Cross medal is now on display. You can see it at the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum in Winchester, Hampshire, England.
Later Life and Death
In his later years, Douglas Belcher had some health problems. He worked in different jobs. He ran a greengrocer's shop in Kent. He also farmed in Suffolk. Later, he did office work in the City of London.
When World War II started, he briefly joined the British Army again. However, he was discharged soon after due to injury and poor health. He remarried in London in 1941. After the war, he lived in Surbiton.
Douglas Belcher passed away on June 3, 1953. He was 63 years old. He was buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church in Claygate, Surrey.
