BELL, Thomas
| Service Number: | 3770 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, 28 November 1882 |
| Home Town: | Greta, Cessnock, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Merewether Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Killed in Action , Hangard Wood, Villers-Bretonneaux, France, 8 April 1918, aged 35 years |
| Cemetery: |
Hangard Communal Extension Cemetery Plot I, Row H, Grave No. 15, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3770, 20th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 3770, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 3770, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Sydney |
Private Thomas Bell
From Gary Mitchell, Australia and NZ in WWI group
101 years ago today, on the 8th April 1918, Private Thomas Bell, 20th Battalion (stretcher bearer), miner from North Street, Greta, New South Wales, father of four (Lorna B Bell born 15.5.1916 at Greta, N.S.W.), was killed in action at Hangard Wood, France, age 35.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1649552
Born at Wollongong, New South Wales on the 28th November 1882 to Henry (died 1933) and Catherine (died 1931) Bell of Railway Street, Merewether, New South Wales; husband of Beatrice F Bell nee Campbell (married 1905, died 1967?) of 15 Edward Street and "Hangard Wood", Margaret Lane (Street), Merewether, N.S.W., Thomas enlisted September 1915 at West Maitland, N.S.W.
Thomas suffered from a displaced cartilage of his left knee from April to November 1917.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138160711
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140986316
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159361718
He is now resting at Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Plot I Row H Grave 15.
Thomas’s name has been inscribed on the Greta Soldiers' Obelisk and the Merewether Public School Roll of Honor (photo).
As a member of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, unsure if his name has been inscribed on a Roll of Honour from the district.
October 1919 a house was built by volunteers at Margaret Lane (Street), Merewether, N.S.W., to be called "Hangard Wood", for Mrs Bell and her 4 children, such was the patriotism of the day. I would love to know if this house still exists with the house sign (a great story perhaps?)
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162594058
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140070176
There is no memorial inscription at his parent’s gravesite at Sandgate Cemetery, and I am unable to place a memorial cross, so I have placed poppies in honour of his service and supreme sacrifice. ANGLICAN 1-58. 85.
http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/…/war-…/index.php…
Photo of the Merewether Public School Roll of Honor taken by Ken Shilling, available from “Remembrance” CD, at the Newcastle Family History Society.
Lest We Forget
Submitted 8 April 2019 by Evan Evans
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
105 years ago today, on the 8th April 1918, Private Thomas Bell, 20th Battalion (stretcher bearer, Reg No-3770), miner from North Street, Greta, New South Wales, father of four (Freda, Chris, Alma, Lorna B, born 15.5.1916 at Greta, N.S.W.), was Killed in Action at Hangard Wood, Northern France by enemy artillery, age 35.
Born at Wollongong, New South Wales on the 28th November 1882 to Henry (died 1.12.1933, Merewether, N.S.W., age 82) and Catherine Bell (died 10.2.1931, Newcastle, N.S.W., age 77) of Railway Street, Merewether, New South Wales; husband of Beatrice F Bell nee Campbell (married 1905, Merewether, N.S.W., died 1967?) of 15 Edward Street and "Hangard Wood", Margaret Lane (Street), Merewether, N.S.W., Thomas enlisted on the 6th September 1915 at West Maitland, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A54 Runic on the 20th January 1916.
Admitted to hospital 26.9.1916 (loose cartilage, left knee), 30.5.1917 (synoptis left knee), 5.11.1917 (inflammation joints, left knee).
A house was built for widow Beatrice and her 4 children at Merewether to be officially handed over on the 25th October 1919.
Thomas is resting at Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Plot I Row H Grave 15.
Place of Association – Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Once again, we have a Dad and Mum who lost a son during The Great War and no memorial inscription to tell us of that supreme sacrifice at their gravesite, and I am unable to erect a Memorial cross, so I have placed poppies in remembrance of Thomas’s service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. ANGLICAN 1-58. 85.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.