BELL, Roy (Raoul Sunday)
| Service Numbers: | 4663, N117099 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 December 1941, Norfolk Island, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Norfolk Island Infantry |
| Born: | Sunday Island, New Zealand, 19 February 1882 |
| Home Town: | Norfolk Island, Norfolk Island, Australian Territory, Norfolk Island |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Photographer |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Norfolk Island, Oceania, 28 March 1966, aged 84 years |
| Cemetery: |
Norfolk Island Cemetery, Kingston, Norfolk Island |
| Memorials: | Norfolk Island Cenotaph, Norfolk Island RSL Roll of Honour, Norfolk Island Roll of Honour |
Biography contributed by Daryl Jones
Son of Thomas BELL and Fredericka Harriet nee PATCH
The Bell family lived on isolated Raoul Island in the Kermadec Group, where Roy was born and raised. They were sole residents and their history is interesting. Whalers were regular visitors, one of whom was Norfolk Island whaler George Parkin Christian.
Roy stated when he enlisted that he had seen previous service in WWI in Egypt and France with 19th Battalion for 2 years and No. 3 Squadron AFC for 2 years.
Because of the isolation of Raoul Island (also known as Sunday Island) and the influence of visitors studying the Island, Roy took a life long interest in the environment and could possibly be described as an “early days naturalist”.
Roy Bell collected bird data on Norfolk Island for Gregory Mathews from c. 1910. Mathews published a list of birds of Australasia in 1931, including Norfolk Island. Bell's journal (1912-1913) survives in the Mathews Ornithological Collection at the National Library of Australia.
At his death Roy had spent 63 years of his 84 years on Norfolk Island
He appears to have arrived on Norfolk Island in 1903
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