Pte
Thomas Haddon Bell
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1898 |
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Place of birth: Leadgate, Durham, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Medomsley, Durham, England, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Student |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 26494 |
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Enlistment place: Consett, Durham, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), 1/5th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/11/1917 |
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Place of death: De Knoet Farm, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Cemetery
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Perth Cemetery (China Wall) Plot: V Row: J Grave: 2 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Thomas Haddon Bell, a former student, was born in July 1898 in Leadgate, Durham, England. He was the son of Joseph Williamson Bell and Mary A. Bell. He enlisted in Consett, Durham. He served in the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), 1/5th Battalion, part of the 147th (2nd West Riding) Brigade of the 49th (West Riding) Division.
On November 19, 1917, the battalion relieved the 1/5th West Yorkshire as battalion in support to left front line battalion on the divisional front on the Broodseinde Ridge just north of Beselare. A company was established at Tokio Ridge, B and C company were on the Westhoek Ridge and D company was on Anzac Ridge. On November 20, A Coy’s position on Tokio Ridge was heavily shelled most of the day. The other Coy’s were intermittently shelled during the day.
Thomas Haddon, aged 19, was killed in action on November 20, 1917. Private Bell was initially buried where he fell, near De Knoet Farm (28.D.28.b.20.30). After the war, his remains were exhumed and reinterred in the Perth China Wall Cemetery, Plot V, Row J, Grave 2.
On November 19, 1917, the battalion relieved the 1/5th West Yorkshire as battalion in support to left front line battalion on the divisional front on the Broodseinde Ridge just north of Beselare. A company was established at Tokio Ridge, B and C company were on the Westhoek Ridge and D company was on Anzac Ridge. On November 20, A Coy’s position on Tokio Ridge was heavily shelled most of the day. The other Coy’s were intermittently shelled during the day.
Thomas Haddon, aged 19, was killed in action on November 20, 1917. Private Bell was initially buried where he fell, near De Knoet Farm (28.D.28.b.20.30). After the war, his remains were exhumed and reinterred in the Perth China Wall Cemetery, Plot V, Row J, Grave 2.
Sources 3
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1/5th West Riding Regiment (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2800/4). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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War Office: Soldiers’ Documents, First World War (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 363). https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/102993 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/290153 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=0b4d392c-fdec-45c5-8c17-72cfd0850ead |