Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Duffield Bell, one of 6 children, was the eldest of 3 sons and had 2 older and 1 younger sister. His father Charles Bell and mother Isabella Holmes were married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland where they were born in 1855 and 1864 respectively. Over the next 10 years Isabella gave birth to all 6 children, Isabella, March 5th 1885, Lilly Ann 1887, John Duxfield 1888, Charles William 1889, Harriet, March 8th 1891 whilst they were living at 5, Argyle Place, All Saints, Newcastle, where Charles supported his family employed as an engine fitter and Thomas Edward in 1895, baptised January 24th at Christ Church, Shieldfield, Newcastle. By 1901 they had moved to the suburbs of Newcastle at 40, Ramshaw Street, Elswick, unfortunately in 1904 Isabella Bell nee Holmes died aged only 39 years. Only 3 of Charles Snr’s children were still living at home in 1911 which consisted of 3 rooms at 20, Beaumont Street. He continued to be employed as an engine fitter, Charles William (21) was a clerk at Armstrong Whitworth’s ordinance works at Elswick, Thomas Edward (16) had been a laundry messenger, now unemployed, Harriet Bell (20) who had married in 1910 to George Henry Knott was also living in the household with her new husband and their 4-month old son Charles Ratcliffe Knott.
Prior to the declaration of war Charles was an unbound blacksmith’s apprentice for Armstrong Whitworth and served with the 1st Northumberland Royal Engineer Volunteers, as Sapper 247, in England, from March 13th 1906 to March 31st 1908, attending their training camp from June 24th until July 4th 1908.
When war was declared with Germany in August 1914 he was one of the first to enlist at Newcastle-upon-Tyne joining the newly formed 19th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers raised at Newcastle, November 16th 1914, as Private 1174. After initial training close to home, they became a Pioneer Battalion, February 8th 1915, joining the 105th Brigade, 35th Division in July at Masham, North Yorkshire then moved to Salisbury Plain in August for final training. They were ordered to Egypt in late 1915, but the order was cancelled and they proceeded to France landing at Le Havre, January 29th 1916, concentrating east of St Omer. They were in action as infantry during the Battles of the Somme at Bazentin Ridge, Arrow Head Copse, Maltz Horn Farm and Falfemont Farm, during the Battle of Guillemont, September 3rd-6th 1916, however, the 19th Battalion remained on the Somme but did not participate in any other major battles.
Private 1174 John Duxfield Bell was killed in action, November 25th 1916 and is now at rest within Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave I. J. 27. He was 28 years of age and single.
His father received all monies due to him from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 20 Beaumont Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
Five months later tragically the family received the news that his younger brother Private Thomas Edward Bell serving with the Yorkshire Regiment was deemed to have died April 23rd 1917 and having no known grave his sacrifice is recorded on the Arras Memorial within Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery. Their brother Charles William Bell trained with the Machine Gun Corps but did not serve overseas.
Charles Bell Snr may have died in 1938.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Duxfield Bell is remembered at Elswick on E35.10 and in the Battalion History
