Name
William James Alfred Bell
1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/05/1917
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33785
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CALAIS SOUTHERN CEMETERY
Plot G. Row 3. Grave 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore, St Stephen Parish Memorial Obelisk, Park Street, Not on the Radlett memorials, Not on the Shenley memorials
Pre War
William James Alfred was born in Shenley, Barnet in 1882 (with his twin sister Alice) to Walter J Bell, a coachman, and Eliza M (nee Howard).
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Ridge Hill Cottage, Shenley with elder brother Walter (born 1881). On the 1901 William was living with his parents and his sister Alice, still in Shenley, Barnet. By the 1911 Census William is recorded as working as a Groom Domestic and was a visitor at 11 Devonport Mews, Paddington, London with William Clarke, a Chauffeur Domestic. He met Ethel Huddy, who was working as a Child's Nurse Domestic in Notting Hill in 1911 and they married in 1913 in Kingston, Surrey. They had two children, William Ernest (born 5 Apr 1914) and Harold Walter (born 17 Jun 1915).
William was registered as on the 1915 electoral roll at Houndswood Stables, Radlett, Herts. (Radlett was part of St Stephen, St Albans Polling district, Houndswood House is now a care home)). Pension records Ethel also at this address and later at 12 Thayers Farm Road, Beckenham, Kent.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for William. He was enlisted in Bedford, probably in 1916 and served as a Private 33785. Following his training he was posted 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment which had been in France since 1915.
The 8th Battalion were in the action near Loos and Lens in Apr 1917 (Battle of Hill 70) and early May 1917. While in the Front Line they were subject to shelling and machine gun fire. He received wounds and it is likely that he was being repatriated to England when he died of those wounds, as he is buried in Calais Southern cemetery.
Biography
William James Alfred was born in Shenley, Barnet in 1882 (with his twin sister Alice) to Walter J Bell, a coachman, and Eliza M (nee Howard).
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Ridge Hill Cottage, Shenley with elder brother Walter (born 1881).
On the 1901 William was living with his parents and his sister Alice, still in Shenley, Barnet.
By the 1911 Census William is recorded as working as a Groom Domestic and was a visitor at 11 Devonport Mews, Paddington, London with William Clarke, a Chauffeur Domestic. He met Ethel Huddy, who was working as a Child's Nurse Domestic in Notting Hill in 1911 and they married in 1913 in Kingston, Surrey. They had two children, William Ernest (born 5 Apr 1914) and Harold Walter (born 17 Jun 1915).
William was registered as on the 1915 electoral roll at Houndswood Stables, Radlett, Herts. (Radlett was part of St Stephen, St Albans Polling district). Pension records Ethel also at this address and later at 12 Thayers Farm Road, Beckenham, Kent.
Additional Information
His widow Ethel received a war gratuity of £ and pay owing of £2 12s 8d. She also received a pension of £1 2s 11d a week from 26 November 1917 for herself and her two sons.
Brother Walter served in Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) from Feb 1915 – Jun 1919 (France mar 1915 – Mar 1918).
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
