Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 24692 John Bell

Age: 23
From: Bootle, Liverpool
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
K.I.A Monday 3rd July 1916
Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

24692 Private John BELL, 17^th Battn, KIA 03.07.1916.

John was born in the March quarter of 1893 at 2 Orlando Street, Kirkdale to Irish born coal dealer, Christopher Bell and his Irish born wife Mary (nee McCarthy). They married in the December quarter of 1885 in Liverpool and had five children, four boys and one girl. John was their fifth and final child, his elder brother Frances Joseph died aged 4 in the June quarter of 1893 just after John's birth.

The April 1901 Census shows 8 year old scholar John and his parents and siblings living with the McMahon family all at 98 Brasenose Road, Bootle. His father, Christopher, is aged 44, and a dock labourer born in Ireland, whilst his mother, Mary, is also aged 44 and born in Ireland. Their children, all born Liverpool, are listed as; William 14, Christopher 11, Mary 10, John 8.

By the time of the April 1911 Census, John is an 18 year old labourer in a stopper works living with his parents and siblings at a new address; 29 Boswell Street Bootle. His father Christopher is now 54 years of age and is still a dock labourer, his mother Mary is also 54 years old. THye advised that they have been married for 25 years and have had five children, of whom four have survived. They list their chikldren as; children William 24 fireman at sea, Christopher 21 Navy stoker, Mary 19 sweet wrapper, John 18 labourer, and niece Margaret Wright 15.

In August 1911 John's father, Christopher, died aged 54 at 29 Boswell Street and is buried at Ford R.C. Cemetery .

Further tragedy befell the family in April 1912 when John's eldest brother William died aged 25.

The 1914 edition of Gores has Mrs Mary Bell at 15 Boswell St, Bootle

John enlisted in Liverpool as Private 24692 joining the 17th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

Following the successful attack at Montauban on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, John was killed in action on 03rd July 1916 during a heavy enemy bombardment. He was 23 years of age.

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His death was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post on 05th August 1916

- Bell 246993 J. (Bootle).

John earned his three medals, the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1914 - 1915 Star.

His Army pay owing of 18s:2d was sent to his widowed mother, Mary, on 23rd October 1916 to 29 Boswell Street. A War Gratuity of £6 was also sent to her on 28th November 1919. She claimed the Dependents Pension in respect of John until her death in the March quarter of 1931, aged 73, at 15 Boswell Street Bootle.

His CWGC record, Medal Cards, Soldiers Effects and Pension records are all correctly under Private 24692 but the SDGW site and E. Wyrall's History of the King's have him wrongly listed as Pte 42692.

John is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Bootle Civic Memorial

St James's Roman Catholic Church Memorial, Bootle.

We currently have no further information on John Bell, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

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