Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Richard Mitchell Bell was born in Quorn on 2nd September, 1891, to William Wallace Bell and Elizabeth Ann Rowe.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth Ann died on 18th September, 1910.

Prior to enlisting in Adelaide on 11th August, 1915, he’d been a bootmaker and was single.

Upon enlistment, he stood at 5’5”, weighed 131lb, had dark hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

He embarked, aged 24 from Adelaide on the RMS Malwa on 2nd December, 1915, with the rank of Private and in the 10th Battalion.

According to his military records, he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 28th December, 1916.

He was wounded in action on 9th May, 1917 with gunshot wound to his face and fingers. He rejoined his battalion thirteen days later, on 22nd May.

On 20th July, 1917, he was promoted to a temporary position as Corporal, then to a temporary position as Sergeant on 2nd October, 1917. Later he was promoted to Corporal permanently six days after his temporary promotion to Sergeant, on 8th October, and permanently to Sergeant on 2nd January, 1918.

He was recommended for a Military Medal on 16th October, 1917.
On 7th August, 1918, the Commonwealth Gazette wrote an article regarding the medal:
‘During operations of 1st to 19th October, 1917, near ZONNEBEKE east of YPRES, Cpl. BELL at all times showed great fearlessness in carrying out the work alloted to him. As Company Guide he set a splendid example to the men he was leading into the line. On several occasions during exceedingly heavy shelling men were buried and Cpl. Bell was always first on the scene and at great personal risk saw that all men were dug out. Throughout the operation Cpl. BELL was of great service to his Company and has set a magnificent example at all times to the men under him.’
He was also later awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal, however the circumstances of their awarding is unclear.

His brother, Alfred James Bell, who was serving in France at the time, died on 27th August, 1917.

Bell returned to Australia on the 27th July 1919 and was discharged from the AIF on the 20th September 1919.

He married Mary Adelaide Easther on 31st May, 1923.

His mother in law, Isabella Easther, died on 3rd April, 1936. Three years later, in 1939, he moved to Bordertown, South Australia.

His father, William Wallace, died on 11th November, 1947 and his brother, William Charles, died on 24th September, 1951.

After thirty-two years of marriage, Mary Adelaide Easther died on 31st October, 1955.

Richard Mitchell Bell died on 8th December, 1962, in Ballarat, Victoria, at the age of 71.
He is currently buried at North Brighton Cemetery, Brighton, South Australia.

The AIF project (no date) Richard Mitchell BELL. Available at: https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=19366 (Accessed: 31 July 2024).

Barrier Miner (1917) ‘AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION | 308th Casualty List’, 10 June, p. 183` – 183.

Border Chronicle (1936) ‘THE LAST MRS. I. EASTHER | Passes Away at Murray Bridge’, 24 April, pp. 1–1.

The Journal (1918) ‘AUSTRALIAN HEROES’, 21 May, pp. 2–2.

Larment, L. (no date) North Brighton Cemetery, www.ozburials.com. Available at: http://www.ozburials.com/CemsSA/brighton.htm (Accessed: 31 July 2024).

Quorn Mercury (1915) ‘Local and General News’, 23 December, pp. 2–2.

Quorn Mercury (1921a) ‘Empire Day Celebrations at Quorn | Unveiling of the School Honour Roll.’, 27 May, pp. 2–2.

Quorn Mercury (1921b) ‘Empire Day Celebrations at Quorn | Unveiling of the School Honour Roll.’, 27 May, pp. 2–2.

Richard Mitchell Bell (no date) Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/ (Accessed: 31 July 2024).

Subscription ran out before I cited: information may be incorrect

Taonga, M. (2024) First World War Glossary and list of abbreviations, nzhistory.govt.nz. Available at: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/ww1-abbreviations-acronymns (Accessed: 31 July 2024).