Name
Alfred James Bell (MSM)
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/02/1919
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant Major
WR/501652
Royal Engineers
Inland Water Transport
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Meritorious Service Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BUSHEY (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD
Spec. Memorial.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Not on the Bushey memorials
Pre War
Alfred James Bell, born in Poplar in 1889, was the son of Allan and Mary Ann Bell in a family of five children, two of whom died during childhood. Both Alfred and his father were employed as railway clerks. 1911 Census records the family was living at 157 Malmesbury Road in Bow, London.
In 1911 Alfred was transferred to the Staff Section and spent 12 months on the staff of the District Superintendent at Liverpool, then returning to Euston.
Alfred Married Lillian Edith Gidney, the daughter of William Arthur Gidney on 18th August 1915 in the Parish of St Mary, Stratford Bow, London, Middlesex. At the time of his enlistment they were living at 53 Rudolph Road, Bushey, Herts.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted in Whitehall, London on 15 November 1915 at the age of 26. Posted to the Royal Engineers Railway Troops, Inland Water Transport Section at Longmore Camp, as a Sapper with the service number formerly 138128 and then WR/501652, he reached the rank of Sergent Major.
He was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's dispatch on 7th November 1917.
He died on 24 February 1919, aged 29 of Pneumonia which he contracted whilst travelling back from France, due to the cold weather and living under canvas while waiting to be shipped back to the UK.
He was buried in Bushey churchyard, where he is commemorated on a Commonwealth Grave Commission gravestone. His wife, Lilian Edith Bell, later moved to 13 Park Road, Bushey.
He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), a silver medal given for distinguished service or for gallantry, principally to non-commissioned officers.
Additional Information
The value of his effects were £ 28, War Gratuity which went to his father Allan Bell.
His headstone is non-standard and lists 4 men with the information "THOSE HONOURED HERE DIED IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND LIE BURIED IN THIS CHURCHYARD", suggesting that the position of these men's graves have been lost.
Information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild,
