David Bell
Private, 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment. (South Wales Borderers)
- Register No.
- 75 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment. (South Wales Borderers) (register: 24th Regiment of Foot) all 24th Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 May 1867 on this day → all of 1867 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Andaman Islands Expedition
- London Gazette
- 17th December 1867 on this day → all of 1867 →
- Born
- in 1845 at County Down, Ireland
- Died
- 7th March 1920 at Gillingham, Kent
- Memorial / grave
- grave in Woodland Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent
- Medal held by
- the South Wales Borderers Museum, Brecon,
Digest of citation
On 7th May it 1867 at the Island of a Little Andaman, Bay of Bengal, Private Bell was one of a party of five* of the 2/24th Regiment, who risk their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through dangerous surf to rescue some of their comrades who had been sent to the island to find out the fate of the Commander and seven of the crew, who had landed from the ship Assam Valley and were feared murdered by the cannibalistic islanders. (* see also Cooper, J reg No. 252-- Douglas, C. M. Reg. 340-Griffith, W Reg No. 1 496 and Murphy T Reg No. 904)
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BELL, David (Reg. No. 75)
Private. 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment. (South Wales Borderers).
London Gazetted on 17th December 1867.
VC Medal's Custodian is the South Wales Borderers Museum, Brecon, Wales.
Born on in 1845 at County Down, Ireland.
Died on 7th March 1920 at Gillingham, Kent.
Memorial at grave in Woodland Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.
Digest of Citation reads: On 7th May it 1867 at the Island of a Little Andaman, Bay of Bengal, Private Bell was one of a party of five* of the 2/24th Regiment, who risk their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through dangerous surf to rescue some of their comrades who had been sent to the island to find out the fate of the Commander and seven of the crew, who had landed from the ship Assam Valley and were feared murdered by the cannibalistic islanders. (* see also Cooper, J reg No. 252-- Douglas, C. M. Reg. 340-Griffith, W Reg No. 1 496 and Murphy T Reg No. 904)
Additional information:. Private Bell was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery at sea for saving lives during a storm in the Bay of Bengal.
Additional information
Private Bell was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery at sea for saving lives during a storm in the Bay of Bengal.
Wales.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: grave in Woodland Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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