Name
Laurence Philip Bradleigh Bell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/06/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
106159
Royal Engineers
1st Bn., Special Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BERTRANCOURT MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot I, Row E, Grave 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
I SHALL BE SATISFIED WHEN I AWAKE WITH THY LIKENESS
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Bushey Memorial, Clay Hill, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields
Pre War
Lawrence Philip Bell, only son of Mrs Alice Bell and the late Job Bullock Bell, served as Corporal 106159, Royal Engineers and is remembered with honour at Bertrancourt Military Cemetery and is commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St James’ Church.
Job Bell died whilst the family was in Burton-on-Trent and Alice moved to Hertfordshire to become a member of staff at Watford Field Girl’s School. She subsequently moved as headmistress of the girl’s department at London Road School, Bushey.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he lived in Burton-on-Trent, with his widowed mother and no siblings. On the 1911 Census, an art student aged 15, he lived in Bushey, with his widowed mother and no siblings.
He resided in Bushey.
Wartime Service
Laurence Bell was at the Middlesex Hospital before enlisting in London at the end of June 1915 as Corporal 106159 in the Scientific Section (1st Battalion Special Brigade) of the Royal Engineers. Initially 4th Stationary Hospital and then to General Base Depots, Ronen
He was almost immediately sent to France and was slightly wounded and badly gassed in September 1915. He was hospitalised in France for many weeks, suffering from double pneumonia and subsequently returned to England. He must have recovered as he returned to France, however according to his medical records was formally discharged from service 6 March 1916 and then died on 27 June 1916.
The Watford Observer reported: "The death from wounds is announced of Corporal L P Bell, the only son of Mrs J B Bell, headmistress of the London Road Girls’ School, Bushey. Lawrence Bell was at the Middlesex Hospital before joining Scientific Section of the Royal Engineers at the end of June 1915. He was almost immediately sent to France. In September 1915, he was slightly wounded and badly gassed, being in hospital in France for many weeks with double pneumonia following on the gassing, but in the end he made a good recovery. In the spring of this year he was home on leave. Corporal Bell was a most promising young man; had he lived he would no doubt have made his mark in the chemical world. The family originally resided in Burton on Trent, where Mr J B Bell, the father, died. At the opening of the London Road School, Mrs Bell was appointed headmistress of the girls’ department, having previously been on the staff of Watford Field Girls’ School. Mrs Bell is very highly esteemed in Bushey, and much sympathy is felt for her in her terrible loss."
He is remembered with honour at Bertrancourt Military Cemetery and is commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St James’ Church.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Lawrence’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There is an article about and a Death announcement for Lawrence in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 8 July 1916.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
