BELL, John Wilcox
| Service Number: | 385 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Shoeing-Smith |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Sunderland, England, United Kingdom, 3 September 1879 |
| Home Town: | Buderim, Sunshine Coast, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farrier |
| Died: | Gisborne, New Zealand, 24 August 1954, aged 74 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Taruheru Cemetry, Gisborne, New Zealand Plot: RSA-113 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 385 | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 385, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 notes 6th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 4 Apr 1901 aboard Victoria arriving Cape Town 2 May 1901. | |
| 8 Jun 1901: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Shoeing-Smith, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, Bk 2 p. 162, notes promoted to Shoeing-Smith on 8 Jun 1901. | |
| 12 Jun 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Shoeing-Smith, 385, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, Bk 2 p. 162, notes returned to Australia aboard Aurania arriving Brisbane 5 Jun 1902, discharged 12 Jun 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
His 2nd given name has been recorded variously as Wilcox, Willcock, Willock and the correct Wilcock which was his mothers maiden name.
As well as serving in the South African (Boer) war he also served in WW1 with New Zealand Forces, Trooper S.N. WW1 11/856, NZ Expeditionary Force, Wellington Mounted Rifles.
When John Wilcox (Wilcock) Bell enlisted in 1901 in the 6th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 13 Apr 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as W. F. Bell, Buderim Mountain via Woombye. In the original nominal roll for the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, held by National Archives, it is noted his N.O.K. was his father.
At some point after his discharge in Brisbane from his Boer war service he relocated to New Zealand. He was living at Gisborne, New Zealand, in 1914 when he enlisted again for WW1 in the New Zealand forces.
Recorded under the name John Wilcock Bell his Attestation Paper, dated 29 Dec 1914, noted that; he was born at Sunderland, England on 3 Sep 1879; he was single, a Farrier and living at Gisborne, NZ; and he had previously served in South Africa with the Queensland QIB. The service History Sheet records his N.O.K. as his brother James F. Bell, Buderim, Queensland. His History Sheet also notes he died at Gisborne on 23 Aug 1954.
John Wilcock Bell was born on 3 Sep 1879 at Sunderland, England, a son to William Fawcett Bell and Mary Bell (nee Wilcock).
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 517; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, Bk 2 p. 162; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 6; New Zealand Online Cenotaph; National Library New Zealand- WW1 service record; Gisborne District Council- online cemetery records).
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