William John Albert Bell was a son of John Bell and Margaret Ann Bell. William was born on 20th November 1888 in the Moneymore area. His mother was a hotel keeper in Hanover Square in Coagh. His father was a Sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary. Like his father, William J A Bell joined the Royal Irish Constabulary about 1907. He served in Fermanagh and at Brown Square Barracks in Belfast. He served 5 years with them. William resigned and emigrated to New Zealand. William enlisted on 25th July 1916. Lance Corporal William Bell was wounded twice, once in the leg and again in the neck. Lance Corporal William Bell was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Otago Regiment when he died of wounds on 21st February 1918. He was 30 years old.
Further Information
William John Albert Bell was a son of John Bell and Margaret Ann Bell. John Bell married Margaret Cinnamond in County Down on 7th August 1884.
William Bell was born on 20th November 1888 in the Moneymore area. William was one of seven children, five surviving.
Family: John Bell, Margaret Any Bell, Margaret Bell (born about 1887), William John Albert Bell (born 20th November 1888), Laura Beatrice L E Bell (born about 1891), James Bell (born 12th July 1892), Leonard Harper Moore Bell (born 10th April 1894), Adelaide Mary Georgina Bell (born about 1897).
The 1901 census lists 'Albert' as age 12 living with the family at house 14 in Hanover Street, Coagh. He was still at school. His mother was a hotel keeper. His father is not living with the family at this time, probably because, as a Sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary, he was based elsewhere.
Like his father, William J A Bell joined the Royal Irish Constabulary about 1907. He served in Fermanagh and at Brown Square Barracks in Belfast. He served 5 years with them.
William resigned from the police in 1912 and emigrated to New Zealand.
William joined the New Zealand police, and was soon promoted to the fingerprint office of the criminal investigation department.
William’s mother Margaret Bell passed away on 29th June 1914.
1915
On their mother’s anniversary in 1915, the family put various memorials in the local newspaper, from all over the world. One of these was from William.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915: In Memorial
BELL – In loving memory of Margaret Ann, beloved wife of John Bell, (Ex-sergeant R.I.C.), Ballygoney, Coagh, who departed this life on 29th June 1914, Interred in Ballygoney Churchyard on 1st July 1914. Peace. Perfect Peace. (plus verse). Inserted by her loving husband and son and daughter, Harper and Adelaide.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915: In Memorial
BELL – In loving memory of our dear mother, who departed this life on 29th June 1914 and was interred in Ballygoney Churchyard on 1st July 1914. (plus verse). Inserted by her sorrowing daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Samuel Lamont, New York, U.S.A.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915: In Memorial
BELL – In loving memory of my dear mother, who departed this life at Ballygoney (Ireland) on 29th June 1914. Interred in Ballygoney Churchyard on 1st July 1914. ‘Though gone from sight, to memory clear’. Inserted by her sorrowing son, William John Albert, Wellington, New Zealand.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 3rd July 1915: In Memorial
BELL – In loving memory of my dear mother, who departed this life on 29th June 1914 and was interred in Ballygoney Churchyard on 1st July 1914. (plus verse). Inserted by her sorrowing daughter Laura, New York, U.S.A.
1916
William enlisted on 25th July 1916. He was working for the New Zealand government in Wellington. He was 6 foot 2 inches tall.
During his training with the army he was promoted to Sergeant, finally gaining the rank of Sergeant Major at the time of his arrival back in England where he passed the examination for commissioned rank but he decided not to accept it. He was deputed to training work in England, but was so anxious to get to the front that he gave up his rank and went as a private. Soon after, however, he earned promotion on the field.
Lance Corporal William Bell was wounded twice, once in the leg and again in the neck.
Lance Corporal Bell was home on leave in Coagh in the summer of 1917.
Lance Corporal William Bell was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Otago Regiment when he received severe wounds on 17th February 1918 and was taken to No. 2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station where he died on 21st February. He was 30 years old.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 16th March 1918: William John Albert Bell
William John Albert Bell, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, son of Sergeant John Bell, Ballygoney, died on No 2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station on 21st February, from a wound received in action on 17th. The deceased soldier, who was 22 years of age, was formerly on the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) and served in Fermanagh and in Brown Square Barracks, Belfast. He resigned in 1912 and went to New Zealand, where he joined the police force, and was soon promoted to the finger print office of the detective department. He offered his services as soon as war broke out, and it was only after his third application, and when he had actually resigned his position, that he was allowed to volunteer. During his training he was promoted sergeant, and held the rank of sergeant major at the time of his arrival in England. He had passed an examination for commissioned rank, but decided not to accept it. His New Zealand comrades, before he left, presented him with a wristlet watch. He was deputed to training duty in England, but was so anxious to get to the front that he gave up his rank and went out as a private. He very soon however earned promotion in the field. He was twice previously wounded, once in the leg and again in the neck. He was a very popular and promising young man, and all who knew him will greatly regret his early death and sympathise with his relatives in their sad bereavement. He was home on a brief furlough during last summer.
The first intimation of the wound that so sound proved fatal, was received by his father from his chaplain. This was soon followed by a letter from a nursing sister, as follows:-
‘Dear Mr Bell, Before this reaches you, you will have heard the sad news of your boy’s great sacrifice. I know the clergyman here has written to you, but because your boy specially asked me to write, I want to send you this letter and express my sympathy for you in your grief, though could you have seen how splendid he was in those last hours, I am sure there could be room in your heart but pride that your son was so much of a man, and had taken his courage and his manhood home with him to his God. As you probably know, he was shot through the chest, and from the first his condition was a very critical one. Later the doctors knew it was hopeless, and he was not allowed to suffer. He too, knew towards the end that he could not live, and spoke to me of dying, and asked me if, after he had gone I would write to his father. I asked him if he had any special messages to send, and he said, just tell him ‘how and when I died’. He told me that you were in hospital in Ireland. He is buried in the cemetery here. It is called Lijssenthoek Cemetery and is about a mile from Poperinghe. The graves are carefully tended and during the last year the cemetery has become a very large one. The few personal effects your boy brought here with him will be sent to you through the War Office in England. Your son came into our ward during the night at 2.20am, on 17th February and he died at 5.00am on the morning of the 21st. He was so sweet and grateful for every little thing we did for him, and his beautiful character was so clearly marked on his face and fine physique, that my heart aches for you in the loss of such a son. I remain yours, very sincerely. Clare Gass, Nursing Sister.’
Another nurse, who had nursed him through a previous casualty, also wrote expressing sorrow, and of the esteem in which the deceased was held. She adds:-
‘The only consolation is that he died nobly for his country, and that he would rather have gone quickly than have lingered on disabled or an invalid. He fought bravely to the end, and then passed – a soldier and a gentleman.’
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 25th May 1918: John Bell (father of William Bell)
BELL – 17th May, Ballygoney, Unagh, John Bell, ex-sergeant Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.). Interred at Ballygoney burying ground.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 25th May 1918: Ex-Sergeant John Bell, R.I.C., Ballygoney (father of William Bell)
On Friday last the death took place at Ballygoney of Mr John Bell, ex-sergeant R.I.C. He had been in ailing health for some months, and his death is deeply regretted by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Sergeant Bell was a native of County Cavan and joined the police in 1876 and retired in 1901 after 25 years’ service. Fifteen of which were spent in charge of the Moneymore station. His eldest son, Sergeant Major William J A Bell, died in Belgium from wounds received in action while serving with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The funeral took place on Monday to Ballygoney burying ground, and was very largely attended by the people of Coagh and Moneymore districts. The remains were carried from the house and to the graveside by members of the R.I.C. from Cookstown and Coagh. The services in the house and the graveside were conducted by Revs D Maybin, W T McClelland and J W Sharpe. The coffin bore the inscription:- ‘John Bell, died 17th May 1918’. The chief mourners were Harper Bell (son), Leonard Trobear, William Trobear, Fred Hassard (nephews), Rev J W Sharpe and James Hassard (relatives). Mr Hugh R Stewart, undertaker, Coagh, had charge of the funeral arrangements.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 23rd November 1918: Coagh (Laura Bell - sister of William Bell)
Miss Laura Bell, daughter of ex-Sergeant John Bell, Ballygoney, on resigning her commission as assistant secretary to the treasurer of the Vogue Publishing Company of New York City, was presented with a beautiful Silver Mounted Bag. She leaves to reside with her sister in Chicago where she has accepted a better position with one of the largest Mail Order Houses in the States.
Lance Corporal W. J. A. Bell is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Poperinghe, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
An obituary following his death records that he was the brother of Harper Bell and Adelaide Bell, Coagh, Miss Laura Bell and Mrs Margaret Lamont of New York, USA.
The CWGC record that William John Albert Bell was the son of the late John Bell (ex-Sergeant Royal Irish Constabulary) and Margaret Arm Bell, of Ballygoney, Coagh, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. It also records that he had previously been wounded three times.
