2nd Lieutenant Arthur Walton Bell
Photo: B. Chandler
In Newcastle upon Tyne (St.Nicholas) Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:
In
Loving memory of
Philip
Beloved husband of
Elizabeth Bell
Who died 12th July 1927,
Aged 61 years.
Also of their son
Arthur Walton
Lieut. D.L.I.
Who fell in action in France
28th March 1918, aged 23 years.
Also of the above
Elizabeth Bell
Who died 28th December 1955Aged 94 years
“Until the day break”.
Arthur Walton Bell was born 19th April 1895 at 164 Dilston Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, the second son of Philip Bell and Elizabeth (daughter of the late Joseph Walton of Newcastle upon Tyne).
He was educated at the Westgate Road Council School, and then to Allan's Endowed School (Scholar).
He joined the Civil Service and worked in the National Insurance Audit Department at Holborn Hall. Arthur was a Second Division Clerk.
He enlisted in the Civil Service Rifles 4th August 1914. Arthur was in France and Flanders from March 1915.
Arthur was severely wounded in November 1915, with a gunshot wound in his right thigh, and was invalided home.
He re-joined his Battalion at Winchester in May 1916, as a Bombing Instructor. He obtained a commission and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, 1/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in October 1916. He joined his battalion in France on the 2nd January 1917. He was wounded again in February 1917. Then he returned to the front in December 1917.
Arthur was killed in action south west of Buequoy, near Arras on the 28th March 1918. He is buried in a Military Cemetery there.
The War diary reports:-At 8.45am on the 28th March, the enemy opened up with a heavy bombardment on the front line. Fortunately the shooting was very inaccurate and the front line trench suffered very little, though the support areas were deluged with shells. At no point was the enemy able to reach the British front line. In the centre about 25 Germans were able to advance to within 50 yards of the front trench. An officer and a number of Durhams went out to meet them and attempted to take them prisoner. The majority surrendered but one of the enemy in the rear shot the officer and a N.C.O.
His Lieut-Colonel wrote: I have been in very close touch with him since the day he joined us, and he has always done his work most nobly, and was everything that could be desired in a British officer. In losing him, I have not only lost a most reliable and valuable officer, but I have also lost a good friend and comrade.
His commanding officer also said His services were invaluable to me and to the battalion. I have recommended his conduct for a decoration.
His Major also wrote He had been assisting to dress wounded men under very heavy shell fire, and while doing so, himself received a piece of shrapnel in the face. However, he still continued assisting some of his men, and it was until all had been evacuated that he thought of himself. He then proceeded to our Dressing Station, and unfortunately in crossing a ridge, he was hit by a bullet, which, I believe, passed through his lung. He was loved and admired by both officers and men, and nothing could have been finer than his disregard for his own personal safety when others needed his help.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
His medals were sold 2nd April 2004 for £820 by Dix Noonan Webb.
Arthur Walton Bell is remembered in Durham on D47.013 page 64, in Fenham on F31.01, and at Newcastle on NUT001, NUT043, NUT052 and NUT128 and on the Longbenton Metal plaque War Memorial erected by their colleagues in the National Insurance Audit Department, [The Ministry] probably relocated to the present location Benton Park View, Main Site, Newcastle, enquiries are being made to locate the whereabouts of this Memorial.
