James BELL

BELL, James

Service Numbers: 60651, 300318
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: Royal Australian Air Force
Born: Pealiba, Victoria, 2 March 1900
Home Town: Not yet discovered
Schooling: The Geelong College
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: 14 May 1979, aged 79 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials: Geelong College WW1 Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

23 Jul 1918: Involvement Private, 60651, 1st to 17th (VIC) Reinforcements, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: ''
23 Jul 1918: Embarked Private, 60651, 1st to 17th (VIC) Reinforcements, HMAT Marathon, Melbourne

World War 2 Service

13 Aug 1940: Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 300318, Royal Australian Air Force

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Biography contributed by Daryl Jones

BELL, James (1900-1979)

James Bell was born on 2 March 1900. He became a day student at Geelong College from 1909 through to 1917. His address at entry was 'Airlie', Western Beach and he was enrolled by A H Bell. James Bell has two Valette listings in August 1916 and May 1918 suggesting that he may have left the School in mid 1916 and returned later.

He enlisted (No. 60651) as a Private in the AIF, 7th Battalion, on 2 March, 1918 and embarked for France with General Service Reinforcements on 23 July on HMAT A74 Marathon. He returned to Australia, embarking on 24 January 1919.
He went to the University of Melbourne, 1919-1921, completing three years of a medical course.

He enlisted in the RAAF on 8 Dec 1936 as he held an ‘A’ class flying licence (no.1351), and had flown 73 hours dual and solo. He served (No. 300318) as a Sergeant at Air Force Headquarters, but was discharged on 13 August 1940 as the Air Force considered him over the age for flying.

James Bell died on 14 May 1979.

His brothers, Harry Hugh Bell 1901-1991), and George Clarke Bell (1903-1997), also attended Geelong College

Source : The Geelong College - http://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au:8080/wiki/BELL-James-1900-1979.ashx?HL=bell

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