Edward James BELL

Edward James BELL Update Details

If you confirm that you want to proceed with the update, this record will be locked for editing by all other users until you have finished. You will have 7 days to complete your changes before they will be automatically submitted.

Do you want to proceed?

BELL, Edward James

Service Number:	385
Enlisted:	9 September 1914, Helena Vale, Western Australia
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	16th Infantry Battalion (WW1)
Born:	Cardiff, Wales, 6 December 1890
Home Town:	Kelmscott, Armadale, Western Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Mill Hand
Died:	Died of wounds, Gallipoli, Turkey, 25 May 1915, aged 24 years
Cemetery:	Beach Cemetery - ANZAC Cove Plot 1, Row G, Grave 4
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial

World War 1 Service

9 Sep 1914:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Helena Vale, Western Australia
22 Dec 1914:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 385, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: ''
22 Dec 1914:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 385, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne
25 Apr 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 385, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), ANZAC / Gallipoli
25 May 1915:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 385, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), ANZAC / Gallipoli
Date unknown:	Involvement 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Battle for Pozières

Help us honour Edward James Bell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

Rank - Private

Taken on strength, 16th Battalion, 15 October 1914

Mortally wounded, 25 May 1915

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Next of kin -brother William Henry Bell of Kelmscott, Western Australia

Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Melbourne Argus 5 July 1915.

“GOD SAVE AUSTRALIA!”

"The dauntless spirit of Private Edward J. Bell, a member of the Australian Expeditionary Force who was killed in action at the Dardenelles is shown by Private H. Sweeney of Bendigo in a letter to a twin brother of the deceased soldier. Private Sweeney wrote – “It is very sad about poor old Ted. You know we each promised that whoever fell first the other should write to his people. This war is awful. Ted and I stuck together till the end. We had been fighting all night and next morning we were in the same trench together. At about 10 o'clock Ted said to me “They have got me Harry. My God.” I turned around and poor old Ted said – “Good-bye, Harry. God save the King and God save Australia.” I held him up in my arms till he died. All I can say is that he died a very brave man. On the following, Friday I was hit in the leg. It is very sore but I hope to be about again in a few days.”

The late Private Bell was 28 years old and was born in Cardiff, Wales. He enlisted in Western Australia, his father being the licensee of the King's Head Hotel, York, Western Australia."

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia