Private 203211 Thomas Bell


 Bell Thomas 96 400x600


Killed in Action on Saturday, 26th May 1917, age 30.
Buried in Grave II. B. 6. at Maroc British Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France.

'A' Company of 1st/5th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 137th Brigade of 46th Division.
Formerly 3324 South Staffordshire Regiment.

Son of John and Eliza Bell, of 91, Horseley Heath, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Tipton, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, and Salem Chapel memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/522766/


Genealogical Data

Birth of Thomas Bell registered December quarter 1886 at West Bromwich.

1901 Census
51 Sheepwash Lane, Staffs.
John Bell (38, Rivetter in Iron Works, born Dudley), his wife Eliza (36, born Tipton), and their 4 children: Susan (16, born Great Bridge), Thomas (14, Barber's Apprentice, born Great Bridge), Florrie (10, born Great Bridge), and Elsie (2, born Great Bridge).

1911 Census
91 Horseley Heath, Tipton, Staffs.
Eliza Bell (46, Married, born Tipton), and 3 of her 4 surviving children of 5: Thomas (24, Hairdresser, born Tipton), Florence (20, born Tipton), and Elsie (12, School, born Tipton).


Personal Data

After Thomas's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £4/1/3d (4 pounds, 1 shilling and 3 pence); this was paid to his father, John, in September 1917. His War Gratuity was £3/10/0d (3 pounds, 10 shillings), this was also paid to his father in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Thomas had enlisted in approximately May 1916.

Thomas's mother, Lucy Bell, was granted a Dependant's Pension of 2/6d (2 shillings and 6 pence) per week from 18th December 1917 to 14th January 1918. This was increased to 7/6d (7 shillings and 6 pence) per week from 15th January 1918 "for life"; this seems to have been a long life as she died in 1945 at 80 years of age.


Action resulting in his death

In March 1917 the Division relieved the 24th Division in front of Lens in the Lievin sector, and it remained there for four months. During this time much hard fighting took place, which culminated in the attack on Lievin on July 1st, 1917. From the time the sector was taken over, the line was advanced an average of 2,000yards, and the ground captured a number of small mining villages and the important tactical point Hill 65.

On the 24th May the 1/6th North Staffs from the same 137th Brigade as Thomas had launched an attack to the north of Lens, near the Loos Crassier, with the objective of Nash and Netley trenches. This was successfully carried out, but German counter-attack was inevitable. This came during the night of the 24th/25th which was repulsed, but the morning brought a heavy bombardment followed up by a battalion strength German attack which forced the North Staffs out of the newly-captured positions.

It was during the support operations for this operation on 26th May that Thomas Bell and William Wright were killed in action, both are buried in Maroc British Cemetery just a few graves apart.


Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald July 7th 1917
CASUALTIES
Among recent casualty lists are as follows:-
Pte. J. Bell, South Staffs, killed.
Pte. W. Wright, South Staffs, killed.