Pte 57625 John Arthur Clifford Bell

• Age: 19
• From: Dewsbury, Yorks
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Wancourt Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: V.E.26

John Arthur Clifford Bell was born on the 23rd August 1897 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, and was the only son of Arthur Bell and his wife Phoebe Ann (nee Jones) who were married on the 14th June 1886 at St Peter, Stanley. John was baptised on the 10th Oct 1897 at St Philip, Dewsbury.

The 1901 census shows the family living at The Mansion, Crows Nest Park, Dewsbury. This mansion and grounds was purchased from private ownership by Dewsbury Borough Council in 1893, and extensive public parkland was laid out. The council opened the basement of the mansion for the sale of refreshments and two rooms were later set aside one for the ladies and one for the general public. People held family functions, weddings and socials in the popular Park Mansion. John’s father Arthur is recorded as a caterer and confectioner so presumably he and his family were living on site to provide those services. Arthur is 42 born West Ardsley, his wife Phoebe is 33 born Thornhill and they have six children: Born Thornhill, Emily aged 13, Minnie 11, twins Elsie and Lilly aged 9, Alice Maud 8 and John aged 3 born Dewsbury, also an Aunt Sarah. The park and mansion are still in use today, the mansion houses Dewsbury Museum.

The family are still living at The Mansion house at the time of the 1911 Census. Arthur 52 is still managing the catering, mother Phoebe is 44 (married 24 years with 6 children). Daughters Elsie 20 and Alice Maud 18 are working as hair specialists. The older daughters Emily 23 and Lilly 20 are working at home, and 13 year old John is at school. Minnie 22 was married in 1909.

John enlisted in Clipstone, Yorkshire and was formerly 15538, Army Cyclist Corps and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57625 when he was killed in action on the 9th April 1917 aged 19 during the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

He now rests at Wancourt British Cemetery, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“A NOBLE SACRIFICE”

Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting and the advance was continued on the following days. The cemetery, called at first Cojeul Valley Cemetery, or River Road Cemetery, was opened about ten days later; it was used until October 1918, but was in German hands from March 1918 until 26 August, when the Canadian Corps recaptured Wancourt. At the Armistice, the cemetery contained 410 graves, but was very greatly increased in the following years when graves were brought in from the following small cemeteries and isolated positions on the battlefields south-east of Arras including HENIN-SUR-COJEUL, about 800 metres North of the village, contained the graves of 29 British soldiers who fell on 09th April 1917, almost all of whom belonged to the 2nd Wilts or the 18th King's Liverpools. The cemetery now contains 1,936 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 829 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 76 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to 20 who were buried in Signal Trench Cemetery whose graves were destroyed in later battles. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Fittingly, John is remembered on the Dewsbury War Memorial which is situated in Crows Nest Park, his former home.

Huis death was recalled in the Leeds Mercury on 05th May 1917:

Price of War In Dewsbury

The Dewsbury casualties of the past week include the following,-

Killed: Pte J. A. C. Bell, son of Mr A. Bell, Crow Nest Park Mansion; 

Soldiers Effects and Pension to father Arthur

John’s mother died in Bridlington in 1926 at the age of 58, and his father also in Bridlington in 1932 at the age of 75.

BELL Arthur of Beaconsfield House, Wright Crescent, Bridlington, Yorkshire, died 6th July 1932, probate London 14th September to James Hill and Daniel Henry Jones gentleman. Effects £1822 12s 4d.

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