Sergeant Bellamy was the son of George Herbert Bellamy and of Elizabeth Bellamy (nee Johnston), of Cambridge, Auckland, New Zealand.

In early May 1941, Sergeant Bellamy reached Kisamos Bay, Crete, from Greece in the company of Captain Hetherington, Regimental Sergeant Major Dave Sweeney, Sergeant Dave Hawkins, and Sergeant Bill Kenny. They had rowed to the island of Tinos and joined a group of Australians, then stolen a motorised boat; however, this proved unreliable, and it subsequently took three days rowing day and night to traverse the 25 miles from Antikithira to Kisamos Bay.

Sergeant Bellamy was killed on Hospital Ridge, West of Canea. His platoon was positioned to defend the road between Evthymi and Canea; however, they had been badly briefed, and withdrew without orders, apparently before fighting began. Sergeant Bellamy, realising the importance of the position, refused to withdraw from his temporary fortification. He set up his Bren gun and single-handedly maintained fire on enemy movements, and fought on until he was killed by heavy return fire. AWMM