Algernon Francis BELL

BELL, Algernon Francis

Service Number: 3239
Enlisted: 21 July 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 59th Infantry Battalion
Born: Traralgon, Victoria, Australia, 1891
Home Town: Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, Victoria
Schooling: Lakes Entrance State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Fireman
Died: Died of wounds, France, 24 July 1916
Cemetery: Boulogne Eastern Cemetery
VIII A 137, Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Boulogne, Nord Pas de Calais, France
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lakes Entrance & District Roll Great War Roll of Honor, Lakes Entrance WW1 Memorial, Lakes Entrance and District HR, Lakes Entrance and District War Memorial
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

21 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3239, 7th Infantry Battalion
11 Oct 1915: Involvement Private, 3239, 7th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: ''
11 Oct 1915: Embarked Private, 3239, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne
24 Jul 1916: Involvement Private, 3239, 59th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3239 awm_unit: 59th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-24

Help us honour Algernon Francis Bell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of William Blakey Bell and Georgina Bell, of Lakes Entrance, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia

Pte. Algernon F. Bell, son of Mr W. B. Bell, Lakes Entrance, died on the 24th ult. from wounds received in France. His brother, Signaller T. G. Bell, was killed in action at the Dardanelles in July, 1915. On learning of his brother's death, Pte. A. F. Bell. who was a fireman on the Gippsland, at once enlisted to take his brother's place. He was much esteemed by his associates.

Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Algernon Bell was in the attack at Fromelles with the ill-fated 59th Battalion. Quite remarkable is the fact that his mother stated on his Roll of Honour form, ‘I have had returned to one his diary his last entry being made on the battlefield after he received his wounds, it is as follows. ‘July 19th 1916, 7 o’clock at night, big chance. Wounded in area of leg, going to try and crawl back to trenches tonight.’

In his Red Cross file, ‘Admitted to 13 General Hospital 22nd July with G.S.W. right thigh and shoulder with fracture of femur. On the 23rd his condition was noted as very poor and he died at 1.15 a.m. on the 24th. He was buried the next day in the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.”

Read more...