Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

A SOLDIER AND NUMBER 13.

' Surprising coincidences have occurred in connection with the experiences of
Private Benjamin Bell of the S.A. Expeditionary Forces in being repeatedly confronted with number 13. . Writing recently to his wife at 54 Young street,
Parkside, he says:-"I -wish to tell you of the times No. 13 has occurred since
I enlisted. I enlisted on April 13. On my first night in camp there were 13
men in the tent. I was put into No. 13 platoon D Company base. The last
camp we were in at Mitcham had 13 tents (our unit). On boarding the troop
ship I was put into No. 13 mess, with 13 men at the table. While on board
I picked up a halfpenny dated 1913. Our sergeant-major died and was buried at
sea on July 13. I received my pay on board on July 13, and the amount was
13/ exactly. I was put into a hospital on the evening of July 13, and was taken
ashore to Suez Government Hospital.
There were 12 men in the ward, myself making- 13. We arrived in L...... Harbor on August 13. I was put on duty, in No. M3 ward, which is the 13th letter in the alphabet (m), so I am fated to have No. 13 for my number all through. It is a nice place here, and don't forget to tell the bops over there that they are needed. If they could only see things as we see them they would not hesitate but would just come. I. have nothing to complain of as we are all well treated here in every way.
It is getting cold over here now. Curiously enough it remained for the series
of coincidences, to be completed by the first batch of correspondence, including
the letter quoted, received by Mrs. Bell from her husband, totalling 13, in three
letters and 10 postcards.

Daily Herald Monday 01 November 1915 page 4