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Sydney BELL

Regimental number3760
Place of birthBondi, Sydney, New South Wales
SchoolBondi Public School, New South Wales
ReligionMethodist
OccupationCarter
Address17 Edmond Street, Waverley, New South Wales
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation24
Height5' 3"
Weight127 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs A F Bell, 17 Edmond Street, Waverley, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date4 September 1915
Place of enlistmentHolsworthy, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name19th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/36/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A54 Runic on 20 January 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll55th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFromelles, France
Date of death20 July 1916
Age at death24
Age at death from cemetery records24
Place of burialRation Farm Military Cemetery (Plot III, Row C, Grave No. 24), La Chapelle d'Armentieres, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
160
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: William and Rachael BELL, husband of A. BELL, 7 Myalora Street, Five Dock, Sydney, New South Wales. Native of Bondi, New South Wales
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Admitted to New Zealand Auxiliary Hospital, Moascar, 16 March 1916 (influenza).

Transferred to 55th Bn from 5th Brigade Details, Moascar, 3 April 1916; taken on strength of 55th Bn, Ferry Post, 3 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Killed in action, 20 July 1916.

Buried at V.C. Avenue, Rue Petillon, by Reverend G.B. Statt, 20 July 1916.

Statement, Red Cross File No 330404, 3574 Pte E.W. McCARTHY, A Company, 55th Bn, 12 February 1917: 'He was killed just behind me as we were going into the Trenches at Fleurbaix on July 19th. We were V.C. Sap at the time. A shell fell right in amongst us. He was killed outright. The body had to be left there as we went on into the trench.'

Second statement, 3811 Driver E.F. GOUGH, formery A Company, 55th Bn (patient, No 5 General Hospital, Rouen), 27 February 1917: 'Before the attack started on the 20th July, he was in our first line trench with me. The Germans put a barrage on the trench and they got him with a shell. He was killed at once. We were just going out and I did not see him again and I do not know if he was buried.'

Third statement, 3795 Pte V.J. DREW, 55th Bn, 15 January 1917: 'We were at Fromelles. Bell and Sgt. Jack Boyle were hit by the same shell in a communication trench going up to the attack. Bell was killed and Boyle was wounded ...'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BELL Sydney
Red Cross File No 330404

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