Heslop's Local Advertiser
Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Henry Bell Jnr. was born 1884 at Lanchester, one of 9 children, 7 sons and 2 daughters. His father Henry Bell Snr was a native of West Boat, near Hexham, Northumberland, born 1850 and married Jane Ann Henderson born 1849 at Dunston, Gateshead, County Durham, in the district of Durham in 1874. They lived at 2, Buddle Street at Consett in 1891 where Henry Snr worked as a labourer, ten years later he was employed as a coal miner, living at 5 East Pontop, Kyo, County Durham. Henry (17) also worked at the colliery as a driver below ground as did Alfred (14), George (19) was a hewer.
Henry Jnr. was married in the district of Durham, June 17th 1905 to Georgina Winter born 1882 at Consett, she gave birth to their first child Eva May, May 14th 1906 at Lanchester. In 1911 Henry was employed as a stone-man, at the time they were living at 1, Mona Street, Stanley. Living with them as boarders were Matthew Stoba, a miner, his wife Tamar and daughter Nelly. Their second daughter Ethel was born at Felling Shore, near Gateshead, February 9th 1912.
Henry Bell enlisted at Felling, September 3rd 1914, assigned as Private 17708 to the 12th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. September 16th over 4,000 recruits left Newcastle for Bullswater Camp, near Pirbright in Surrey. There they were divided into the 12th and 13th Battalions DLI and the 10th and 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. They began their training wearing their own civilian clothes but, eventually, blue serge uniforms were issued and in late October, 100 obsolete Lee Metford rifles arrived. By late November rain had made Bullswater camp unusable and the 12th and 13th Battalion DLI moved to Malplaquet Barracks in Aldershot, later to Ashford in Kent, and finally to Bramshott in Hampshire. February 1915, khaki uniforms and leather equipment arrived and by July 1915 rifle training was completed. August 26th 1915, as part of the British Expeditionary Force attached to the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division they landed in France and within days was sent into the trenches. The battalion, however, did not participate during the Battle of Loos but spent the rest of 1915 and early 1916, in and out of the trenches, at Armentieres and Souchez. In late June 1916, the 23rd Division was moved south to the Somme and the 12th Battalion DLI entered the fighting south of La Boisselle, July 7th 1916.
Private 17708 Henry Bell Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, July 8th 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from Great Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 and who have no known grave.
His widow Georgina received all monies due to him, a pension of 21 shillings a week as of January 9th 1917 for herself and their 2 children and his awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 54, Back Dorothy Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
Henry Bell Snr died January 15th 1917 in the district of County Durham, aged 67years. Details of mother unknown.
Georgina Bell nee Winter died during the 3rd quarter 1917, aged 40 years and leaving her children orphans at the tender ages of 16 and10 years of age.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 18/08/1916:
"Private Henry Bell, D.L.I., killed in action on 8th July. Husband of Georgina Bell, 54b Dorothy Street, Felling."
He is remembered at Felling on F32.07
