BELL, Alfred James
| Service Number: | 3431 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 February 1916, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Gympie, Queensland, Australia, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Gympie, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Navvy |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 25 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Grevillers British Cemetery Plot V, Row D, Grave 3 Rev. W.H. Brown officiated., |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Quorn District Roll of Honor WW1 Board |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3431, 31st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
| 4 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3431, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Choon, Brisbane | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 31st Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
Alfred James Bell Lawson.
Alfred James Bell #3431 (known as Snowie to his mates) enlisted in February 1916 and died on 25 May 1917 in France and is buried at the Grevillers British Cemetery there. His birth record for 14 March 1896, shows is name as Alfred Bell Lawson, son of William Lawson and Annie Maria Bell.Extract of a letter from Alfred's aunt to the army: "My widowed sister, Mrs. Lawson lost a young son in France recently, his name was Alfred James Bell Lawson, but as he was only 19 years and thought she would prevent his going so young, he enlisted under the name of 'Bell', cutting out his surname. When she had discovered what he had done of course she made no attempt to stop him, but suggested having his name put right but he begged her to leave it as it was as he thought it might be difficult. So he went out and was killed as Private Alfred James Bell, 3431, 7th Reinforcements 31st Battalion. He was wounded severely in the abdomen chest and buttocks on 24th May and died in 29th Casualty Station on the 25th a few hours after he was brought in. We are advised that he is buried in the cemetery immediately behind the station.
Courtesy of Flickr
Submitted 23 May 2022 by Lynette Turner
Alfred James Bell #3431 (known as Snowie to his mates)
From Phillippe Clerbout (Australia and NZ in WWI)
LEST WE FORGET - five Australian soldiers - WW1 - see Picture
My grandfather, Charles Mitchell (centre) with his friends from the 31st Battalion, Australian Army - WW1.
Photo taken at Salisbury Plains in England.
Alfred James Bell #3431 (known as Snowie to his mates) enlisted in February 1916 and died on 25 May 1917 in France and is buried at the Grevillers British Cemetery there. His birth record for 14 March 1896, shows is name as Alfred Bell Lawson, son of William Lawson and Annie Maria Bell.
Extract of a letter from Alfred's aunt to the army: "My widowed sister, Mrs. Lawson lost a young son in France recently, his name was Alfred James Bell Lawson, but as he was only 19 years and thought she would prevent his going so young, he enlisted under the name of 'Bell', cutting out his surname. When she had discovered what he had done of course she made no attempt to stop him, but suggested having his name put right but he begged her to leave it as it was as he thought it might be difficult. So he went out and was killed as Private Alfred James Bell, 3431, 7th Reinforcements 31st Battalion. He was wounded severely in the abdomen chest and buttocks on 24th May and died in 29th Casualty Station on the 25th a few hours after he was brought in. We are advised that he is buried in the cemetery immediately behind the station."
Donald McDonald #2384 enlisted in September 1915 and was killed in action, in Belgium in September 1917. He is buried at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Cemetery, Belgium.
Charles Mitchell #3428 (my grandfather) enlisted in January 1916 and was discharged as a Corporal in June 1918 - wounded in the right arm by a sniper in the Battle of Polygon Wood, Belgium 1917 - had his right arm amputated above the elbow.
Clarence Hubert Lyall Pedler #3359 enlisted in January 1916 and was discharged in May 1919.
Robert Victor Falkner #3203 enlisted in February 1916 and was discharged in July 1919.
Submitted 30 June 2019 by Evan Evans
Biography
31 Battalion
Rank - Private
Taken on strength, 31st Battalion, 2 April 1917.
6 December 1916: Charged with striking a superior officer and using insubordiate language in the presence of a superior officer.
Mortally wounded, 24 May 1917 with wounds to chest and abdomen.
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Click images to start slideshow.