Ron Carson has provided the following:
John was born on 30 April 1889 at Newcastle upon Tyne, the son of John Joseph and Beatrice (nee Walker).
He married Annie Harriet Gooding in the second quarter of 1915 at Birkenhead, Cheshire. They lived at 8 Merton Road, Liscard Wallasey, Birkenhead (former of 109 Norman Street, Birkenhead) with their daughter, Beatrice, who was born on 27th February 1916.
John enlisted at Birkenhead and served with No.3 Company, 13th Cheshire Regiment. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for rescuing Lt. Gilbert Whit-White and another soldier three days later, his citation reads:
‘For conspicuous gallantry on 4th October 1915, near Le Touquet. While in charge of a wiring party an officer was wounded. Serjeant Bell, though under a heavy rifle fire the whole time, went to his assistance, and, with the help of another man, carried him back into the trench. On the 7th October an enemy shell demolished the parapet of our trench and buried a Corporal. Serjeant Bell at once went to his assistance, and, with the aid of another man, dug the Corporal out, being under a heavy rifle fire all the time’. (29 November 1915).
