Pte
George Bell
Information about birth
|
Place of birth: Manchester, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
|
Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
|
Force: British Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 202884 |
|
Enlistment place: Manchester, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
|
Units: — Manchester Regiment, 18th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 31/07/1917 |
|
Place of death: Inverness Copse, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
Cemetery
|
Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XLVIII Row: F Grave: 9 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
George Bell was born around Manchester, enlisted there, and was assigned the rank of Private in the 18th Manchester Battalion, part of the 90th Brigade within the 30th Division.
On July 31st, 1917, the 30th Division took part in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. They were positioned in front of Sanctuary Wood, with the 90th Brigade on the left, the 21st on the right, and the 89th in support, alongside the 18th Division. Their objective was ambitious: to extend the line eastward, from Tower Hamlets past Veldhoek into the depths of Polygon Wood. The attack began at 3:50 a.m. The right brigade missed their assembly due to delays caused by enemy shell fire. As a result, many battalions became intermingled while passing through Sanctuary Wood. The 18th Manchester Battalion aimed for the second objective near Clapham Junction and consolidated with the 18th Division. They came under machine gun fire from Stirling Castle to the south when leaving Sanctuary Wood and could not advance further into Glencorse Wood.
George was killed in action that day. His body was recovered near Inverness Copse, slightly further from the point of consolidation at the end of the day. Private George Bell is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XLVIII, Row F, Grave 9.
On July 31st, 1917, the 30th Division took part in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. They were positioned in front of Sanctuary Wood, with the 90th Brigade on the left, the 21st on the right, and the 89th in support, alongside the 18th Division. Their objective was ambitious: to extend the line eastward, from Tower Hamlets past Veldhoek into the depths of Polygon Wood. The attack began at 3:50 a.m. The right brigade missed their assembly due to delays caused by enemy shell fire. As a result, many battalions became intermingled while passing through Sanctuary Wood. The 18th Manchester Battalion aimed for the second objective near Clapham Junction and consolidated with the 18th Division. They came under machine gun fire from Stirling Castle to the south when leaving Sanctuary Wood and could not advance further into Glencorse Wood.
George was killed in action that day. His body was recovered near Inverness Copse, slightly further from the point of consolidation at the end of the day. Private George Bell is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XLVIII, Row F, Grave 9.
Sources 4
|
18 Battalion Manchester Regiment. (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2339/3). https://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
|
90 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters. (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2337/5). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
|
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 372). https://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
|
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 24-26. Sources used |
More information 3
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461902 |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=763dd350-b5fb-470b-9890-8055583848dc |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/284925 |