Bell John Sgt 4444502
Personnel Entry
Name Bell John
Army number 4444502
Rank Pte
Decorations
Date of birth 27/2/1909 at 24, Queen Street, Birtley - the seventh of twelve children.
Age
Unit Durham Light Infantry. Enlisted 29/4/1925 at Chester-le-Street, TA 8, initially for 4yrs but extended service until outbreak of War. Aged 16 on enlistment, although DLI Enlistment Book records him as 18 years old at the time. Posted 8th Bn DLI, Posted 11th Bn DLI, Prisoner of War 02/08/1940, Discharged under King's Regulations 1940 Para 390 (xvi) 7/2/1944.
Company/Battery 8th Bn - B Company, 11th Bn - B Company, C Company.
Platoon or other sub-unit Served in various Platoons in C Company as Platoon Sergeant.
Task or role Instructor, Platoon Sergeant.
Joined Brigade Not yet confirmed but probably 1/9/1939 or very shortly afterwards.
Promotions L/Cpl in 1935, Cpl in August 1939, Sergeant on being posted to 11th Battalion DLI.
Wounded 20/5/1940.
Prisoner of War Captured 20/5/1940 - 8B - including time in Lamsdorf.
Died/Killed in action Death recorded in Gateshead District August 1999.
Home address Born Birtley, Miner and Brickworker. Father was also Miner and Brickworker. Research indicates that he married Lavinia E Robinson in the fourth quarter of 1927 - possibly 12/11/1927.
Source table 11DLI
To listen to a detailed interview with Mr Bell, conducted by Harry Moses on behalf of the Imperial War Museums Sound Collection, please click here.
