Thomas Henry Bell

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 30/10/2015 - 11:25

First Name:

Thomas

Middle Name:

Henry

Last Name:

Bell

Date of Birth:

Monday, November 28, 1892

Mother's Name:

Catherine Bell (nee Dixon)

Father's Name:

Henry Bell

Date Enlisted:

Monday, September 6, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

20th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, April 8, 1918

Place of Death:

France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Thomas Bell (Service No 3770) was born at Mount Keira, via Wollongong, N.S.W. In 1905 he married Beatrice Campbell.

When Thomas enlisted he was 32 years old and working as a miner.

Thomas embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A54 Runic with 9th Reinforcements, 20th Battalion, on 20th January 1916. He arrived in Egypt on 26th February 1916 and was sent on to France, arriving there on 25th March 1916.

Thomas served on the Western Front until 25th September 1916 when he was admitted to hospital with a knee injury. Over the next 18 months he was to be admitted to hospital due to this ongoing knee problem a number of times. He returned to his unit in Belgium for the last time on 18th February 1918 and served as a stretcher bearer for his Company.

On 8th April 1918, Thomas was sleeping in his dugout when it was hit by a shell, and he was killed instantly.

Thomas is buried in Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension, France: Plot I, Row H, Grave 15.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, BELL T