The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with B.

Surnames Index


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

Sgt. Derek Bell .     Royal Air Force 50 Sqdn. (d.27th Dec 1941)

I am searching for a photo of Derek Bell who flew with 50 Sqn.




Stkr 1st Cl. Douglas Stewart Bell .     South African Naval Forces HMS Dorsetshire (d.5th April 1942)

Douglas Bell married my step aunt, Dorothy Mabel Page. He served on HMS Dorsetshire and went down with the ship on 5th April 1942.




Pte. Duncan Bell .     British Army Royal Army Ordnance Corps   from Neilston, Renfrewshire, Scotland

Duncan Bell was my uncle. He served in Egypt and was, I think, at Tobruk but he survived the war and died in Rothsey, Bute, about 1978 or 79.




Cpl. Duncan Bell .     Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps   from Quebec, Canada

(d.30th April 1941)

Corporal Bell was the husband of Elizabeth Bell of Verdun, Province of Quebec, Canada.

He was 41 when he died and is buried in the Killybegs Catholic Cemetery, Killybegs, Co. Donegal, Ireland.




Elsie Bell .     Land Army




RC3 Eric John Sydney Bell .     Royal Navy   from London




EM Ewart John Charles Henry Bell .     Royal Navy H.M.S. Phoebe (d.23rd October 1942)

Electrical Mechanic Ewart Bell was 22 when he died and is buried in the Pointe Noire European Cemetery in the Congo.

On the 23rd October 1942, H.M.S. Phoebe was on her way to take part in operations off North Africa, when she was torpedoed off the coast of French Equatorial Africa. 46 men lost their lives in this engagement and 29 of them were buried in Pointe Noire European Cemetery in a large collective grave. This grave was later marked by a screen wall memorial, which carries details of all 46 casualties.




S/Sgt. Francis E. Bell .     United States Army Coast Artillery Corps C Btry, 515th CA Regt (AA)   from New Mexico, USA




Frank Bell .     British Army Grenadier Guards   from Seaton, Cumbria

My Uncle Frank and my father both served in the Grenadier Guards. Frank was a prisoner of war at Stalag 11a having been taken prisoner at Anzio.

My father Joseph was with the 2nd Battalion Guards Armoured Division he was seriously wounded at Cagny, France.




Frederick James Bell .     Royal Air Force 83 Squadron   from Atherton, Lancs.

(d.22nd Dec 1944)

My Grandad Frederick James Bell was in 83 Squadron RAF based at Conningsby. Freddie died aged 24, far too young, leaving his wife and 2 yr old son (my dad) and his brother and sister. He had just had leave and gone back on duty. When flying with Lancaster number PB533 on 22nd December 1944 they were diverted on the way home to Metheringham air base because of fog at Conningsby but unfortunately there was also fog at Metheringham and they crashed into a copse of trees. All the airmen had moved to the front of the plane to help see their way to land and all died; only the rear gunner stayed at the back of the plane and he survived.

Obviously I never meet my grandad but he lives on in my dad and me, I have done a lot of research into him and feel very close to him now and know him. I find his story very sad but will always keep his memory alive. We visit his grave regularly he is buried in Hampstead Norreys cemetery. He will never be forgotten, or the other airmen he died with. I have visited another one of the airman's grave that was onboard and hope to visit the others that I can get too.




Herbert William Bell .     British Army 11th Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers   from Newcastle-on-Tyne

(d.6th July 1944)

Herbert Bell was the son of William and Mary Ann Elizabeth Bell, husband of Isabella Bell of Newcastle-on-Tyne. He is buried at St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux Calvados in France.




Howard Bell .     US Navy 103 Sqd. Fleet Air Wing 7




HV Bell .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

HV Bell served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




P/O J P D Bell .     419 (Moose) Squadron

F/O J P D Bell J26810 was a pilot based at Middleton St George now Teeside airport and flew Halifax`s from this base for 419 RCAF Moose Squadron.




P/O J P D Bell .     RCAF 419 (Moose) Squadron

P/O J P D Bell J26810 was a pilot based at Middleton St George now Teeside airport and flew Lancaster Mk X`s from this base for 419 RCAF Moose Squadron.




Sgt. J. Bell .     97 Squadron




Jack Bell .     Royal Air Force 216 Squadron

Jack Bell is an Australian who served in the RAF. He was shot down over North Africa. You can read is story in a book titled Jack Bell's War. In 2018 he is 100 years old as of writing. Jack was a POW in Stalag Luft 4b




Sub Lt. James Black Bell .     Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve HMS Prunella (d.21st Jun 1940)

My uncle, Sub-Lt James Black Bell was killed because of the torpedoing of HMS Prunella - ex mercantile Cape Howe. It is my understanding that he got off the ship on one of the lifeboats, but that in the storm that came up that night this boat was lost. If anyone has any more information on this event I would be grateful if you could share it with me.




Sub Lt. James Black Bell .     Royal Navy HMS Prunella (d.21st Jun 1940)




W/O James Ramsay "Jock" Bell .     Royal Air Force 199 Squadron   from Dumfries

My father, James Bell known as Jock, served with 199 Squadron from November 1943 till June 1947. He was a rear gunner and his skipper's name was Tom Walford. I have a few photos of his crew and still have his log book.




Sgt. James Hogg Bell .     Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve   from Portrush, Co. Antrim

(d.9th Dec 1944)

Sgt James Bell is buried in the family plot in Ballywillan cemetry, Portrush, Co.Antrim.




AC1. John Rogerson Bell .     Royal Air Force 10 Squadron   from Broats Farm, Kirkpatrick Fleming, Annan, Dumfriesshire

(d.2nd Oct 1939)

I never knew my Uncle John and whilst my Mum had told me he had died during WW11, it is only as a result of a recently re-awakened interest in family history that I have begun delving into John's life. John Bell came from a large family of (fairly) prosperous farmers just over the Border in Scotland and his interest in aeroplanes was ignited when Alan (later Sir) Cobham brought his flying circus to the area in the 1930's and used the fields of John's parents farm as a landing ground. During WW11 these same fields were used as relief landing ground for 15EFTS based at Kingstown in Carlisle. My mother was a time-keeper on the airfield and one of the young pilots who flew was later to become my father after his marriage to mum in 1947.

I knew that John's name appeared on the War Memorial at Kirkpatrick Fleming and that his name appeared on his parents' grave in the churchyard.... but I never knew his full story until recently. It was with tears in my eyes that I discovered that John had died on his first ever operational mission (a leaflet drop over Berlin) on the night of 1st/2nd October 1939. He was only 20 years old. This was the first ever flight over Berlin by the RAF in WW11 and was made by 4 Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys. The raid was made in foul weather and sadly my Uncle John's plane was the only one of the four that failed to return. His plane was last heard of 180 miles from St Abbs Head. John has no war grave, but he is, however, honoured at the RAF's Runnymede Memorial, which I have now vowed to visit one day.




John Gordon "Don" Bell .     Royal Air Force 355 Squadron

John Gordon Bell trained at 22 EFTS Cambridge where he flew Tiger Moths, at 25 EFTS Assiniboia where he flew Cornels, and at 18 SFTS Gimli Man flying Ansons. He then moved to 5 OTU at Boundary Bay and Abbottsford BC learning to fly Mitchells. He flew with 45 Transport Group from Canada to India and was based at Kolar, Mysore State with 6RFU and 355 Squadron at Salbani, Benghl, flying Liberators over Burma.




LAC. John Leslie "Jock" Bell .     Royal Air Force 76 Squadron

My Grandfather, John Bell who died some years ago was a leading Aircraftsman with 76 squadron during the Second war. He volunteered for service to join the RAF so he would avoid the call up to either the Army or Navy. He was a master joiner by trade and as a result worked on airframes against his desire to learn propulsion and mechanics. He served at Holme on Spalding moor, Linton on Ouse and Middleton St George and the went abroad to India with 76 squadron. He was by all accounts a good friend of Leonard Cheshire who was the squadron commander. We have a book signed by Mr Cheshire to my grandfather.

I am trying to research my grandfathers service and any help would be very appreciated.




Pte. Joseph Russell Bell .     British Army 10th Btn. Durham Light Infantry   from Bishop Auckland

(d.24th Jul 1943)

Joseph Russell Bell 4456672 10th Battalion DLI, was part of the BEF fighting a retreating battle against the overwhelming numbers of the German Army. He was shot, wounded and captured near Villiers, northern France on 20th May 1940 then taken to Stalag XXA,Thorn on 10th June 1940, where he became POW No 10558, he was held at various forts until he was "shot while trying to escape" on 24th July 1943 whereupon he was buried in the garrison cemetery at garnison freidhof then later exhumed and re- buried in the Malbork commonwealth cemetery.

Russell was also "mentioned in despatches" and because our relative is reluctant to give details of his citation we dont know whether he earned this award during the fighting or in his captive time. During his time in Thorn he was sent to work in the brickworks near Tuchola where he was befriended by a Pole called Jan Glowacki who's son Lucjan used to to sneak food parcels in for them despite the enormous risks, sometime later the two comrades became separated for ever.

Years later in 2011 when we were planning to visit Malbork to honour his grave Russells sister Doreen gave us a letter written in german by Jan asking Russell to write back and tell him about his story, anyway we showed this letter to the lady who was organising our trip and she said "Tuchola is a small village, I'll be able to track down the Glowacki family and maybe arrange for you to meet them", well she did, we visited the three forts where Russell was held then actually met Lucjan who despite his age remembered His father and his friend, what a moving moment it was! Anyway thats Russells story, now I'm hoping someone somewhere will have a soldier who knew Russell Bell either in the prison or in battle who can maybe "put some flesh on the bones" of this enigmatic man.




Joyce Bell .     Womens Land Army

My mum Joyce Bell was in the Land Army Station down in Evesham we believe, not sure of the year. She used to tell us tales about her and her friend Sandy. We are very proud of her.




Flt.Sgt. Keith Selwyn Bell .     Royal Australian Air Force 115 Squadron (d.30th December 1943)

My uncle, F/Sgt Keith Bell was the bomb aimer in Lancaster DS834 was shot down by German night fighter over Tunglroj, Holland on return journey from Berlin. The pilot was F/Sgt J Lee. He and 3 other crew members are buried in Tungleroj, Holland cemetery.

I have his flying log which concludes at the end of November 1943. When he flew missions with pilot F/Sgt James with whom he had been a crew member since July 1943. There are no entries for December Does anyone have any details of the crews missions in December 1943?




Kenneth Herbert Bell .     British Army 8th Btn. Middlesex Regiment   from Croydon

Kenneth Bell served with the 8th Middlesex Regiment.




LL Bell .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

LL Bell served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




M Bell .     British Army Seaforth Highlanders

M Bell served with the Seaforth Highlanders British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.





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