Carole Fife has provided the following:
Although his military records state that he was born in Bedlington, the censuses for 1881 and 1891 give his birthplace as Longbenton. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Bell and his father was a coppersmith. In 1881 the Bell family was living in Rosehill, Wallsend and in 1891 they were living in Willington Quay. In 1908 John married Elizabeth Riddell Towns from Corsenside. In 1911 they were living at 24½ Victoria Terrace, Bedlington, and John was working as a surface labourer at the pit. They had two daughters, Isabella in 1911 and Dorothy in 1913, and Elizabeth evidently returned to live with her parents after John's death.
He is remembered in Bedlington Station on B163.04 and in Bedlingon on B15.02 and B15.26 page 93
