On Christmas Day 1914, for a short period of time, the guns on parts of the Western Front fell silent. Elsewhere the war raged on and the casualties continued to mount. This week in Stephen’s High School we have taken some time to remember the events of that day, and to pay our respect to the men, and boys, who fought and died in the ‘war to end all wars’.
In particular we have chosen to remember John Bellringer, a young man from Port Glasgow. John was born in 1892 and lived in Glen Avenue, Ballochmyle Place, Port Glasgow and also in Clovelly Cottage, Clune Brae. He was the youngest of 6 children and the son of Edward and Jane Bellringer. At the age of 20 John was an apprentice draughtsman and also a keen footballer. He was signed to Ayr United Football Club, and made 1 appearance. The Club state that ‘Bellringer’s fate was to make the supreme sacrifice without becoming a club luminary.’

In 1912, John joined the Territorial Forces. His medical report shows that John was 5ft 7 inches tall and of good physical development. He was assigned service number 1326 and began his career with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. When war broke out John was quickly promoted to the position of Corporal.
Corporal John Bellringer 1326, 1st/5th Bn., Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, died on 12th July 1915 aged 23. He died in the battle of Achi Baba Nullah, which was fought on 12-13 July 1915. John’s body was never found and no personal effects were returned to his family. John is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
We have chosen to remember Corporal John Bellringer as he came from Port Glasgow, he was a footballer and he died on 12th July 1915, a day when so many soldiers from this area lost their lives.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of Vincent Gillen at the McLean Museum in Greenock, Sue Thomas McNelly and the S3 History Club in helping us to gather this information.

The History Department