Soldiers Died in the Great War states that he was born in Chevington and enlisted in Alnwick. He formerly served with the Northumberland Fusiliers with the service number 316.
"By the Green of the Spring" A tribute to the men of Chevington and Broomhill who served in the First World War:; J.H. Hardy; 2004; Amble Social History Group.
The name of William Bell does not appear on a local memorial