Pte 22925 William Edward Bell

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William Edward Bell was born in Liverpool on the 25th September 1895, the son of Robert Gregory Bell and his wife Ellen Maria (nee Pay). He was baptised at St Catherine's Church, Edge Hill, Liverpool on the 13th October 1895. His parents, both born in Liverpool, married on Christmas Day in 1883. Robert was a miller of Everton, father Robert a miller, whilst Ellen was also of Everton, father George a coachman. William was the seventh of 13 children, five of whom died young. He had older siblings May, born in 1884, Ellen Gertrude 1887, Robert George 1888, Ernest James 1890 (died at age 5), Florence Mary 1892, and Edith Matilda 1894 (died at age one).  His younger siblings were Charles Henry, born in 1897 (died in infancy), Victor James 1898, Ernest Albert 1899, Edward Stanley

At the time of the 1901 census the family is living at 43 Cretan Road, Wavertree, with seven children. His father is aged 36, a hotel porter, mother Ellen is aged 35, children May 16, a packer at a laundry, Ellen G. 14, Robert G. 13, Florence M. 8, William E. is 5 years old, Victor 2, and Ernest A. 1.  

William attended Lawrence Road School. 

By 1911 they have moved to 17 Cecil Street, also in Wavertree, and have six children at home. 

William, age given as 16, is employed as a telegraph messenger.  His father is 48, a hotel porter, and his mother is 47, they have been married 29 years and have had 13 children, of which 8 are still alive. Gertrude, 25, has no occupation listed, Florence, 19, is employed at a cable works, William, is aged 16, and he is employed as a telegraph messenger, Victor, 13, Ernest, 12, and Elsie, 9, are at school.  Also in the household are two-year old William Ellis, described as an orphan, and lodger Joseph Logan Bell, 68, a stores clerk born in Ireland.  

At age 18 and 5 months on 13th January 1914 he joined the 4th West Lancs Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, a Territorial unit, as driver no.723.  He is described as being 5’ 4” tall, with fair physical development. He gives his address as 17 Cecil Street, and states he is an apprentice butcher (not bound) to Albert Bickerton(?), of 118 Wavertree Road. A notation on his attestation reads, 39th Liverpool Boy Scouts. 

When war was declared on 4th August 1914 the 4th West Lancs Brigade was at its annual practice camp at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain. The brigade was immediately ordered to return to Liverpool and was mobilised on the 5th and moved to Allerton for training.  William was discharged on 21st October 1914 as medically unfit.   

However, three weeks later he enlisted in Liverpool on 12th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22925. His service records have survived and show that William gave his incorrect age as 20 years and 2mths (he was just 19), he was a butcher by trade and was described as being 5' 6" tall, weighed 119 lbs, with a 34" chest, a fresh complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He gave his next of kin as his father Robert Gregory of 17 Cecil Street, Wavertree. He gives his religion as Presbyterian. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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 7^th November 1915. 

He was admitted to 98th Field Ambulance with urticaria (hives) on 05th February 1916 and returned to duty on the 09th. 

He was granted leave to the U.K. from 09th to 18th of April 1916. 

Will seems to have suffered from eye problems, as the next month he was treated for conjunctivitis at 96th F.A. and after one day rejoined his unit.  However, a few days later, from 23rd to 27th May he was admitted to 97th F.A. with the same complaint.  Again, on 21st June he was treated at a Casualty Clearing Station for “ophthalmic” problems, and rejoined his unit in the field two days later.

Initially reported as Missing, William was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 20, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. An entry on his casualty form dated 09th September 1916 records Killed in Action.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.    

Notice of his death in action, including his photograph, appeared in the Liverpool Express on 03rd October 1916.

William's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

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 Soldiers’ Effects and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his mother, who was awarded a pension of 6/- a week from May 1917.  She was notified on 26th January 1917 that there were no personal effects to be sent.

Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 17 October 1916 

KILLED.  

Private W. E. Bell (20), K.L.R., on July 30, 1916. He lived with his parents at 17, Cecil street, Wavertree. Late scholar at Lawrence road Council School. 

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 his sisters paid tribute to William under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont:

“In loving memory of Private W.E. Bell, (our Will), K.L.R. (Pals), who was killed in action July 30, 1916. (One of the best. And he gave of his best.) Dear to the memory of his sisters May, Gert, Flo, and Elsie.”  

In 1919 his mother provided information on Will’s living relatives: Robert, Victor, Ernest and Elsie were living at home with their parents at 17 Cecil Street.  Married sisters May Cockayne, Gertrude Organ, and Florence Wiegand lived in Liverpool.  

His father died in hospital on the 11th Feb 1932 aged 66.  

Liverpool Daily Post - Saturday 13 February 1932 

BELL— Feb 11, at the Royal Infirmary, aged 66, ROBERT GREGORY, beloved husband of Ellen Bell, “Ferndale”, Aysgarth Avenue, West Derby (late 17 Cecil-street). Funeral arrangements later. 

His mother remarried in 1935 at the age of 70 and in September 1939, now 74,  she is living with her second husband Robert J. Miller, at 7 Aysgarth Avenue.  She died three weeks later. 

Will is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 14 Right and the Boy Scouts WW1 Roll of Honour.

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