Cemetery: Thiepval Memorial

Country: France

Area: Somme

Rank: Captain

Force: Army

Official Number:

Unit: 9th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers attd. 109th Light T.M. Bty.

Country of Service: British

Details: V C 1st July 1916. Age 20. Son of Capt. E. H. Bell of 22 University Rd. Bootle Liverpool. Native of Enniskillen Ireland. Pier and Face 4 D and 5 B. An extract from "The London Gazette", dated 26th Sept., 1916, records the following: "For most conspicuous bravery. He was in command of a Trench Mortar Battery, and advanced with the Infantry in the attack. When our front line was hung up by enfilading machine gun fire Captain Bell crept forward and shot the machine gunner. Later, on no less than three occasions, when our bombing parties, which were clearing the enemy's trenches, were unable to advance, he went forward alone and threw Trench Mortar bombs among the enemy. When he had no more bombs available he stood on the parapet, under intense fire, and used a rifle with great coolness and effect on the enemy advancing to counter-attack. Finally he was killed rallying and reorganising infantry parties which had lost their officers. All this was outside the scope of his normal duties with his battery. He gave his life in his supreme devotion to duty."

Photograph by David Milborrow