GREATWAR-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] Donald S Bell VC
Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 01:18:37 EDT

Tricia Beresford writes:

<< Hello Listers
Is anybody researching Donald Simpson Bell VC who died
10 July 1916 five days after earning the VC.
There was an article in the Daily Telegraph on 28 June
this year as he was the only professional footballer
to win the VC and a memorial will be placed on the
spot where he fell on July 9 in Contalmaison, France.
20 of his relatives are hoping to attend, including
his nephew Tom Umpleby. I just received information
from my aunt this morning that my great aunt's cousin
Rhoda was briefly married to him before his death.
Any information gratefully received.
Tricia Beresford >>

........You will be interested in the article in the Harrogate Advertiser of
26th May 2000........BELL was one of the two "Harrogate VCs"........the other
being HULL.......

<< Photo - A stonemason has been putting the finishing touches to a unique
memorial to the only professional footballer to receive the Victoria Cross.
Neil Collinson, of C Dale Monumental Masons in Cemetery Road, Thirsk, was
asked to prepare the main part of a monument to Green Howards soldier Donald
Bell, who joined Bradford as a professional in 1912 but was killed at
Contalmaison on the Somme in 1916. The York stone-carved monument and bronze
cross will be erected on a plinth in France near where Harrogate-born Mr Bell
died. It will be unveiled during a special ceremony on July 9.
Mr Collinson was tasked with carving out the words ‘Bell’s Redoubt’ on the
monument, the name given to the place where Donald fell in battle on July 10,
84 years ago.
His death came just five days after his heroic action at nearby Horseshoe
Trench, for which he was awarded the VC.
He had rushed across No Man’s Land and put an enemy machine gun out of
action, saving many British lives.
On the day of his death he led a bombing party that drove off a German
attack, but was killed during the action.
A bronze plaque on the monument bearing the logos of the Green Howards and
the Professional Footballers’ Association will tell his story in French and
English. >>

...........I have other material on BELL which I will send you in due course.
In the meanwhile you will no doubt be interested in this other newspaper
snippet and a letter from him..............

<< Harrogate Herald - 8th December 1915

Lieutenant Donald Bell, son of Mr and Mrs Smith Bell, of East Parade,
Harrogate, has been attached to the 9th Yorkshire Regiment, and gone to the
Front. >>

..............and............

<< Harrogate Herald - 22nd December 1915

Lieutenant Donald Bell writes : I had quite a pleasant surprise on Saturday
when the mail came in to find a Herald for me, and to see on opening it that
I was placed on your list. I have always had the Herald sent to me every week
since I enlisted, and I look forward to reading your weekly letter, also
those from the "boys", many of whom I know very well. By means of your paper
we are able to keep in touch and know how each is faring. I am very grateful
to you for including me in your "big family", and shall eagerly await the
Saturday mail. At the present time I am in the first line trenches, our
battalion having relieved the West Yorks, on Friday last. When we took
possession of the trenches we thought we were fortunate to have taken over
such a dry portion of the line, but next morning we had an eye-opener. The
Germans hold higher ground than we do, and several streams run from their
line to ours. About eight o'clock on the Saturday morning these streams rose
rapidly, and in a few moments our trenches were flooded, knee deep, and in
some places taking one up to the waist. Until we recognised the danger spots
there were frequent mishaps in the way of duckings, one officer breaking the
record with three in one day. Since Saturday it has been a case of "pump,
pump, pump", that is, after we had dammed the streams (in more ways than
one!), and today the trenches are returning to their former state. The sudden
influx was caused by the bursting of a dam on the German side by means of our
artillery. I am afraid the latter did us a bad turn then, but are making up
for it this afternoon by shelling the trenches opposite. Sandbags are flying
in all directions, and "Fritz" is having a surfeit of "iron rations". This is
my first spell in the trenches, but except for the difficulty of keeping dry
it has not been an unpleasant experience. I am thankful to know that we shall
be out of the trenches for Xmas, and consequently should be able to celebrate
the day in a fitting manner. Thanking you once again for your kindness, and
wishing you the compliments of the season. PS - Kind regards to Misses
Roberts and Wood. >>

Tony Cheal
Harrogate Historical Society and re-Population Study Group

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