Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born 01/04/1918 in Port Darwin, Northern Territory

Grandfather William Wallace Bell served in the British army in the Zulu Wars of 1879 in South Africa. He came out to South Australia after that and made his home in Quorn, died 11/11/1947.

Alfred's Father John Henry Bell and Mother Eva Annie Bell, lived at Farina, South Australia.

Grandfather William's sons (Alfred's UNCLES):-
3686 Private Richard Mitchell BELL MM - 10th Infantry Battalion
11/08/1915  enlisted into WWI (24 years of age)
02/12/1915  embarked Outer Harbour, SA onboard RMS Malwa
                   as a Private with 10th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement
Awarded:     Military Medal
12/06/1919  returned to Australia

3134 Private Alfred James BELL - 50th Infantry Battalion
09/10/1916  enlisted into WWI  (26 years of age)
16/12/1916  embarked Outer Harbour, SA onboard HMAT A35 Berrima
                   as a Private with 50th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
26/08/1917  died of wounds received on patrol duty - Warneton, Messines, Belgium
buried in:     Trois-Arbres Cemetery (Plot I, Row Z, Grave No. 42), Steenwerck, France
His name is commemorated on Panel 150 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT

1359 Warrant Officer Class II William Charles BELL
                   4th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company
25/01/1917  enlisted into WWI (33 years of age)
11/05/1917  embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A9 Shropshire
                   as a 2nd Corporal with Railway Unit, Section 4
01/07/1919  returned to Australia

Three of William’s grandsons were to die in WW2:
cousin:   429801 RAAF Sergeant Leonard Alfred Easther
              - 2 Air Observers School, RCAF (RAAF)
Born:  19/12/1921
Father Charles John Easther and Mother Annie Elizabeth Easther (nee Bell)
12/09/1942  enlisted into WWII in Adelaide, South Australia
                  at No.5 Recruiting Centre, RAA
15/01/1943  embarked Melbourne, Victoria for overseas
31/01/1943  disembarked into Canada
04/10/1943  obtained Air Gunners Badge
11/10/1943  Sergeant (Air Gunner) with 2 Air Observers School RCAF, Edmonton, Canada
29/10/1943  died on aircraft training flight
                   3 miles north/east of Cooking Lake Airport, Canada
buried in:    Beechmount Cemetery, Canada
                  Plot: Block 206. Grave 1

brother: Airman Flight Lieutenant John Napier Bell
Born:  25/04/1916 North Adelaide, SA
15/07/1935    enlisted into RAAF as an Air Cadet
                     appointed to Training Squadron, No.1 Flight Training Squadron, Point Cook
16/06/1936    awarded Flying Badge
01/04/1937    promoted to Flight Officer
After training as a pilot he spent some years in Australia and served with
Squadron No.5, 9 and 10 – gaining flying experience on aircraft:- Wapiti, Seagull (Walrus),
Avro Anson, NA16 and Sunderlands on which he became a very proficient pilot.
He volunteered to go to the UK to fly Sunderlands at Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire,
England, UK.
17/01/1940  emplaned from Sydney, NSW - attached to RAF
02/02/1940  disembarked into London, England
01/04/1940  joined RAAF 10 Squadron
18/06/1940  killed in a plane crash in Brittany, France
                   "attempting a rescue mission for Madam De Gaulle and her children"
buried in:     Ploudaniel Churchyard, Grave 4, Brittany, France

SX1760  Corporal Alfred Napier Bell - (b. 01/04/1918
d. 20/01/1944 at Shaggy Ridge, northern New Guinea

brother (returned):
48040 Leading Aircraftman Bruce Napier BELL - RAAF, 84th Squadron
Born:  09/02/1924 North Adelaide, SA
21/04/1942  enlisted into WWII at Farina, SA
24/07/1944  discharged from service

Alfred Napier Bell was described on enlisting as 21 years 10 months of age; single

23/02/1940  enlisted into WWII in Adelaide, SA

***His Service Records need to be ordered through NAA***

Last rank: Corporal with 2/10 Australian Infantry Battalion

20/01/1944  killed in action at Shaggy Ridge, northern Papua New Guinea

buried in:     Lae War Cemetery, Lae, Papua New Guinea
                   Plot E. Row D. Grave 5

His name is commemorated on:-
- Panel 34 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT
- Roll of Honour in Farina, South Australia
- on his grandfather's grave in 1947, Quorn Cemetery, SA.

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan.   27/04/2017.  Lest we forget.