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Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - The Bell Memorial |
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The Bell Memorial at Contalmaison, France
Photo : Edward Nicholl
On the 9 July 2000, a special memorial in tribute to the bravery of Second Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell, VC, and the many men in his Battalion who gave their lives fighting around Contalmaison during the Battle of the Somme, 1916, was dedicated at Contalmaison.
As the first English professional footballer to enlist in November 1914 at the beginning of the Great War, Bell worked his way through the ranks and was eventually commissioned into the Yorkshire Regiment (now the Green Howards) in 1915. He was to prove a fine officer and an example to all who knew him.
An account of how Donald S Bell won the Victoria Cross, how he was killed shortly thereafter, and some personal insights, is given below.
THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME 1916
Green Howards at the Somme
Nine battalions of the Yorkshire Regiment -each of approximately 1000 men
-fought on the Somme. 3,500 were casualties by the time it ended on the 18th
November 1916. Four Victoria Crosses were awarded, one of which was
to 2nd Lieutenant Donald Bell for a supreme act of gallantry on the 5th July
1916.
The 8th and 9th Battalions of The Yorkshire Regiment fought in the area of
La Boiselle and Contalmaison. These two battalions were formed in Richmond,
North Yorkshire in 1915 and were part of Lord Kitchener's New Volunteer Army.
Both battalions first went into action on the 5th/6th July 1916.
ACTION AT HORSE SHOE TRENCH
2nd Lieutenant Donald S. Bell VC 9th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment
To the south east of La Boiselle, the objective given to 69 Brigade was
to capture a position known as Horse Shoe Trench. It was about 1,500
metres long and stood on high ground in a slight curve between La Boiselle
and Mametz Wood. On 5th July 1916, orders were given for the 8th and
9th Green Howard battalions to enter the battle. The time was 6 p.m.
and despite the fact that several of the officers who were leading the troops
had become casualties, great progress was made. Horse Shoe Trench.
was taken and 146 prisoners and two machine guns were captured.
A German machine gun began to enfilade the 9th Battalion of The Yorkshire
Regiment. On his own initiative, 2nd Lieutenant Donald Bell, supported
by Corporal Colwill and Private Batey, tried to destroy the gun position.
They crept towards it along a communication trench and then suddenly
made a dash towards it across open ground. Bell, who was a superb athlete,
moved with incredible speed and surprised the occupants of the machine gun
position, shot the gunner with his revolver and blew up the remainder with
Mills bombs. He then threw bombs into the nearby trench, killing over
50 of the enemy.
This very brave act saved many lives and ensured the success of the attack.
The citation for the Victoria Cross was published on 9th September 1916.
For most conspicuous bravery. During an attack a very heavy enfilade fire
was opened on the attacking company by a hostile machine gun. 2nd Lt Bell
immediately, and on his own initiative, crept up a communication trench and
then, followed by Cpl Colwill and Pte Batey, rushed across the open under
very heavy fire and attacked the machine gun, shooting the gunner with his
revolver and destroying gun and personnel with bombs.
THE ATTACK ON THE MACHINE GUN POST
10th July 1916
Some five days after the incident for which 2nd Lieutenant Donald Bell was
awarded the Victoria Cross, he performed a similar act which cost him his
life.
On the 6th July, 69 Brigade were relieved in the pouring rain. There
was little respite for the men as they now prepared for an attack on the village
Contalmaison.
2nd Lieutenant Bell was detached with a bombing party to the 8th Battalion
who were ordered to attack a position to the west of the village on the 10th
July. By 5.30 p.m. the West Yorkshires and the Yorkshires (Green Howards)
successfully captured the village. Nine machine guns were captured and more
than 300 unwounded prisoners taken.
That evening the 8th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment consolidated their
position, but from 7.30 p.m. onwards the Germans counterattacked. At
9.00 p.m. one of the counterattacks threatened to become more dangerous when
a group of 40 or more Germans were seen to be lining a hedge at Point 93 on
the road to Mametz. A hasty barricade was seen to be erected and a
machine gun placed into position.
2nd Lieutenant Bell and the party of bombers from the 9th Battalion attacked
the position. Although the gallant frontal attack was successful in
driving off the German counterattack, Donald Bell lost his life in the thick
of the action.
Lieutenant Colonel H.G. Holmes, Commanding the 9th Battalion of The Yorkshire
Regiment, wrote to Bell's parents: He was a great example, given at a time
it was most needed, and in his honour, the spot where he now lies and which
is now a redoubt, has officially been named: 'Bell's Redoubt'.
Perhaps the most moving letter was written by Bell's batman, Private John
W Byers to Mrs Rhoda Bell, who had only been married a mere five weeks.
".... I sit down and write these few lines in deepest regret, believe
me I am most sorry that it should be so. I would to God that my late master
and friend had still been with us, or, better still, been at home with you....
The men worshipped him in their simple, wholehearted way and so they ought,
he saved the lot of us from being completely wiped out by his heroic act.....
The last time we were on the Somme, some of the lads came across Mr Bell's
grave and they told me that it was being well cared for and that there is
a cross erected over it.... "
2ND LIEUTENANT DONALD S. BELL VC
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Donald Simpson Bell was born in Harrogate, Yorkshire on the 3rd December
1890.
He was educated at St Peter's School, Harrogate, Knaresborough Grammar School
and Westminster College where he was a superb athlete playing Rugby, Cricket
and Football.
He decided to become a teacher and was soon Assistant Master of Starbeck School
near Harrogate.
Between 1910 -1912 he played amateur football for Crystal Palace, Bishop Auckland
and Newcastle United. In order to supplement his meagre pay of £2.50
per week, he decided to become a professional footballer with Bradford Park
Avenue Football Club. He made his debut as full-back on 13th April
1913 against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineaux. He went on to make
five league appearances for Bradford Park Avenue 1st XI before the outbreak
of the Great War on 4th August 1914.
He decided to join the war effort and obtained permission from the Directors
of Bradford Park Avenue F.C. to be released from his contract. He signed
up as a volunteer soldier with the West Yorkshire Regiment in November 1914;
the first English professional footballer to enlist. He quickly became
a non commissioned officer and was finally promoted to be Sergeant in 1915.
He was recommended for a commission and obtained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant
in the 9th battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (The Green Howards) in June 1915.
A year later on 4th June 1916, he married Rhoda Margaret Bonson at Kirkby
Stephen. His battallion was part of Lord Kitchener's Volunteer Army
which crossed the English Channel at the end of June to travel to the Western
Front in preparation for the Battle of the Somme. He was in action
on 5th July after which he wrote to his mother as follows:
.....the battalion went into action and did splendidly capturing a strong
German position........ When the battalion went over, I with my team
crawled up the communication trench and attacked the machine gun and the trench
and I hit the gun first shot from about 20 yards and knocked it over.
We then bombed the dugout and did in about 50 Bosches. The GOC has
been over to congratulate the battalion and he personally thanked me.
I must confess that it was the biggest fluke alive and I did nothing.
I only chucked the bomb and it did the trick..... I believe God is watching
over me and it rests with him whether I pull through or not.
Five days later, 2nd Lieutenant 'Donny' Bell was killed on the Mametz Road
to the south west of the village of Contalmaison attacking an enemy machine
gun post. A wooden cross with a surrounding railing was erected by
his comrades at the spot where he was killed.
In 1920, his body was removed to Gordon Dump Cemetery, some two kilometres
to the west of Contalmaison, and the wooden cross removed.
'He was about 6 feet tall and when fit about 13 stone 8 lbs. With
it all he was most gentle. He played many fine games for our team.
At Nottingham against Notts County he played grandly but the best of
games was that against the Wolves, when he completely eclipsed Brooks and
Co." T E Maley, Secretary Bradford Park Avenue F.C. 1913.
"He is a great loss to the Battalion and also to me personally, and I consider
him one of the finest officers I have ever seen" Lt Col H G
Holmes. Commanding, 9thYorkshire Regiment 1916
"He knew no fear. He had the courage of a lion, and always seemed
to be on the lookout for ways and means of making things easier for his comrades.
He was ready to risk his life many times over if only he could lessen
the risk to his men and brother officers." A brother officer
1916.
"It may interest you to know that I am living in a dugout about 50 yards
from the spot where 2nd Lieutenant Don Bell VC was killed. He is buried
there and his grave is the brightest spot in the vicinity. Over it
is erected a wooden cross and around it neat railings..... His helmet rests
on the grave....... It will be so comforting to Don's friends to know what
loving care his grave has been tended." Sapper Tom Enderby
1916.
The Bell Memorial at Contalmaison, France
Photo : Edward Nicholl
Information on Donald Bell VC on this page is taken from "Beyond Their Duty" by Roger Chapman. This book was specially written to commemorate the only occasion on which all 18 Victoria Crosses won by members of the Green Howards regiment were together (April to October 2001, in the Green Howards Museum). The book may be purchased from the Green Howards Museum Shop.