George Herbert BELL

George Herbert BELL Update Details

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BELL, George Herbert

Service Number:	2272
Enlisted:	11 September 1915
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	31st Infantry Battalion
Born:	The Junction, New South Wales, Australia, 6 October 1889
Home Town:	Maryville, Newcastle, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Mayfield, New South Wales, Australia, 10 August 1946, aged 56 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW ANGLICAN 2-129. 63.
Memorials:

World War 1 Service

11 Sep 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2272, 31st Infantry Battalion
14 Mar 1916:	Involvement Private, 2272, 31st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: ''
14 Mar 1916:	Embarked Private, 2272, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne
12 Oct 1916:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2272, 31st Infantry Battalion, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17, GSW right leg, severe
16 Mar 1918:	Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2272, 31st Infantry Battalion, 2nd MD - wounding

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

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery

Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.

75 years ago today, on the Monday afternoon of the 12th August 1946, Private George Herbert Bell, 31st Battalion (Reg No-2272), labourer from Maryville, New South Wales and 2 Wyvern Street, Mayfield, N.S.W., was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 56. ANGLICAN 2-129. 63.

Born at The Junction, New South Wales on the 6th October 1889 to Joseph and Mary Ann Dunn Bell; husband of Ethel May Bell nee Brand of 76 Patrick Street, The Junction, New South Wales and Northumberland Street, Maryville, N.S.W. (married 1916, Wickham, N.S.W., died 1934, also sleeping here), George enlisted September 1915 at Newcastle, N.S.W.

George and Ethel married 20.1.1916, George embarked 14.3.1916.

Admitted to hospital 29.4.1916 (paraphimosis), 11.7.1916 (pyrexia), 5.4.1917 (not stated) 25.6.1917 (trench fever). Wounded in action - 12.10.1916 (GSW right thigh).

George returned home September 1917, being discharged medically unfit on the 16th March 1918.

Mr. Bell’s name has been inscribed on The Junction Soldiers' Memorial (photos, unveiled on the 9th August 1919, 140 names originally inscribed, 143 names now inscribed, 27 Fallen and the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates.

I located George resting in an unmarked grave, now long forgotten, so June 2014 I placed a cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service. Cross destroyed, new cross erected August 2021.

I will be submitting an application to DVA asking for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque, curbing and marble chip to be placed at the gravesite to restore Honour and Dignity to George.

Younger brother William (11th Battalion, Reg No-1910, born 1887, KIA 25.7.1916, Battle of Pozieres) memorialised at the cemetery. METHODIST 1 (WESLEYAN) E NW. 58.

Lest We Forget.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia