BELL, Horace Walsh
| Service Numbers: | 183, 655 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, 30 August 1877 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Flax-miller |
| Died: | Pukerua Bay, Porirua, New Zealand, 13 December 1961, aged 84 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 183, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 655 | |
| 1 Mar 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 183, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 463 notes 3rd Contingent embarked 1 Mar 1900 aboard Duke of Portland arriving Cape Town 2 Apr 1900. | |
| 21 Jun 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 183, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 465 notes 3rd embarked 9 May 1901 from Cape Town returning to Australia aboard Morayshire arriving Sydney 7 Jun 1901 (rail to Brisbane), disbanded 21 Jun 1901. | |
| 20 Aug 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 655, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 & 519 notes Walsh part of 1st draft left Brisbane by rail 18 Aug 1901 to embark in Sydney 20 Aug 1901 aboard Britannic arriving Cape Town 22 Sep 1901. | |
| 23 Jun 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 655, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 508 notes 6th embarked Durban 17 May 1902 returning to Australia aboard Devon arriving Brisbane 17 Jun 1902, disbanded 23 Jun 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Horace Walsh Bell served twice in the South African (Boer) War, first as a Private S.N. 183 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry (and Doyle's Scouts), and second as a Private S.N. 655 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 471 & 519- see note bottom of page).
Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Horace Walsh Bell served twice in the South African (Boer) War, first as a Private S.N. 183 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry (and Doyle's Scouts), and second as a Private S.N. 655 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 471 & 519- see note bottom of page).
Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Horace Walsh Bell served twice in the South African (Boer) War and again in WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 183, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, Boer war. Second service was as a Private S.N. 655, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft), Boer war. Third service was as a Private S.N. 14574, Wellington Infantry Battalion, B Company, New Zealand Expiditionary Force, WW1.
When he joined the 3rd QMI in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 3 Mar 1900, it was noted he was single and address was c/- G. T. Bell, New York Insurance Company, Queen St, Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 3rd QMI, Bk 1 p. 35, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother H. M. Bell, Birkdale, Cleveland Line. He served the full tour of the 3rd QMI and returned to Brisbane where he was discharged 20 Jun 1901.
Not long after he was selected in the First Draft of the 6th QIB and embarked again for South Africa in Aug 1901. The members of the draft mainly consisted of men who had served in previous contingents in South Africa and were assembled as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.
Men in the draft were not recorded in the original nominal roll for the 6th QIB but he is recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 91, where it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Hannah Maria Bell, Abbotsford, Bowen Hills, Brisbane.
The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 655, Private Horace W. Bell, remained in South Africa for further service. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 91, notes he returned to Brisbane aboard the Norfolk and was discharged 14 Aug 1902.
It is unclear when, but sometime after returning from the Boer war he relocated to New Zealand with one of his brothers. In 1916 he was located in the Palmerston North suburb of Terrace End in New Zealand when he enlisted again for WW1 with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces.
In his WW1 Attestation Form, dated 28 Mar 1916, it is noted that; he was born at Bundaberg, Qld, on 30 Aug 1877; he was single and a flax-miller; his N.O.K. was his brother R. T. Bell, Bulls, N.Z.; and that he had previously served with the 3rd QMI in South Africa. He returned from WW1 to New Zealand where he was discharged on 20 Aug 1919.
Horace Walsh Bell was born on 30 Aug 1877 at Bundaberg, Qld, a son to George Theodore Bell and Hannah Maria Bell (nee Lilly). He married Jessie Mabel
Gardner on 21 Mar 1923 at "Te Karina", Palmerston North, New Zealand, and they had at least 1 child. His WW1 service record notes that he passed on 13 Dec 1961 at Pukerua Bay, Porirua, New Zealand.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 471 & 519; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 3rd QMI, Bk 1 p. 35, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 91; Archives New Zealand- WW1 service record; N.Z. Online Cenotph- memorial service bio).
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