Arthur Henry BELL

BELL, Arthur Henry

Service Number: 210
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen
Born: Queensland, Australia, 25 July 1879
Home Town: Gympie, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Building Contractor
Died: Tully, Queensland, Australia, 11 May 1935, aged 55 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Tully Cemetery, Queensland, Australia
Plot: Lot 32 Row E
Memorials:
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Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899: Involvement Private, 210
4 Apr 1901: Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 210, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 notes 6th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 4 Apr 1901 aboard Victoria arriving Cape Town 2 May 1901.
21 Jul 1902: Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 210, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB Bk 2, p. 5, notes returned to Australia aboard Medic arriving Brisbane 14 Jul 1902, discharged 21 Jul 1902.

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Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey

When Arthur Henry Bell enlisted in 1901 in the 6th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 13 Apr 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as W. J. Bell, Pine St, Gympie. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 6th QIB, Bk 2 p. 5, it is noted he directed part of hos pay to his mother Mrs. H. Bell, Pine St, Gympie.

Arthur Henry Bell was born on 25 Jul 1879 in Queensland, a son to John Bell and Hannah Bell (nee McCarthy). His father passed in 1903 while still living at Pine St, Gympie, and his obituary published in a Rockhampton newspaper indicates military service ran in the family with his father being a Crimean War Veteran. Arthur married Elizabeth White on 14 Sep 1904 in Queensland and they had 5 children. 

He moved the family to north Queensland in 1907 where they lived in Cairns, Babinda an lastly Tully from 1924. He carried on the occupation of building contractor during which he built the barracks at the Babinda Sugar Mill and Mr A. Jago's stores in Tully. 

(sources- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 514; Qld State Archves- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, Bk 2 p. 5; Obituary- Townsville Daily Bulletin, 15 May 1935).

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