William John Albert BELL

Regimental number32499
Date of birth20 November 1888
Place of birthBallygoney, Co Tyrone, Ireland
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationConstable
Address18 Portland Crescent, Wellington
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation27
Height6' 2"
Weight188 lbs
Next of kinFather, J Bell, Ballygolly, Coagh, County Tyrone, Ireland
Previous military serviceServed for 5 years in the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Enlistment date24 July 1916
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationCorporal
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 22nd Reinforcements, F Company (Unattached)
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 77 Mokoia on 13 February 1917
Final rankLance Corporal
Final unit8th (Southland) Company, 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
FateDied of wounds 21 February 1918
Age at death from cemetery records29
Place of burialLijssenthoek Military Cemetery (Plot XXVII, Row E, Grave No 8A), Belgium
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: the late John Bell (ex-Sergeant, Royal Irish Constabulary) and Margaret Arm Bell, of Ballygoney, Coagh, Co Tyrone, Ireland. Previously wounded three times.
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 12 February 1917; disembarked Plymouth, England, 2 May 1917, and marched in to Reserve Group, Sling Camp.

Reverted to the ranks, 1 June 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 6 June 1917; joined 1st Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, in the field, 25 June 1917, and posted to 8th Company.

Appointed Lance Corporal to complete establishment, 21 July 1917.

Wounded in action, 31 July 1917 (gun shot wound, neck), and admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance same day and then transferred to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station; to No 2 General Hospital, 3 August 1917; to NZ Base Depot, Etaples, 3 September 1917.

Transferred to 2nd Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, 14 September 1917; rejoined 1st Bn, 19 September 1917.

Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 26 October 1917 (influenza); transferred to NZ Stationary Hospital, 27 October 1917; rejoined unit, in the field, 19 January 1918.

Detached to Musketry School, 27 January 1918; rejoined unit, 4 February 1918.

Wounded in action (remained at duty), 9 February 1918.

Wounded in action (third occasion), 16 February 1918 (gun shot wound, chest, penetrating); admitted to NZ Field Ambulance, 17 February 1918; transferred to No 2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, 17 February 1918.

Died of wounds (gun shot wound, left lung, penetrating), 5 am, 21 February 1918.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 55
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805

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