In Memoriam card 1
In Memoriam card 2
In Memoriam card 3
Ian Murray has submitted the following:-
Francis was born in Lanchester in 1895. His father was George, also born in Lanchester, and his mother was Mary Ann nee Kell, born in Lamesley. They had married in 1891. In 1901 the family lived in Front Street, Lanchester with children Francis, Elsie, Ursula and Elizabeth Ann. Mary Ann Bell died in 1901 and George married Margaret Storey in 1903. They had children Eva, George William, Annie May and Hannah. In 1911 they were living at 3, George Street, Langley Park and by this time Francis (or Frank, as his name is recorded on the Census) was aged 16 and was employed as a Pony Driver Underground. Alfred George completed the Bell family in 1915.
Francis enlisted in Durham on 8th September 1914 and had a medical examination on the same day. By this time, he was a miner like his father, his job being a Putter at Burnhope Colliery. He is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, fresh complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. He was a Wesleyan Methodist.
Francis served in the Durham Light Infantry and embarked for France 25th August 1915. He was killed in action on 25th September 1916 aged 22. He is buried in Contalmaison Chateau Cemetery.
The Stanley News 19/10/1916 reports:-
Mr and Mrs G. Bell of Ivy Cottage, (Croft View) Lanchester have been notified that their son Francis Edgell Bell, machine gun section D.L.I. was killed in action on 27 September. The deceased formerly worked at Burnhope Colliery.
His father added "Sudden death is sudden glory" to his headstone.
Awards: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal.
The CWGC records show George Bell as his father but record his stepmother Margaret as Francis' wife. His service records confirm Margaret as his stepmother, as does the In Memoriam card shown here.
Francis Edgell Bell is remembered in Lanchester on L62.01 L62.02 and L62.04
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 263
