Edward William Derrington Bell

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

BELL, Edward William Derrington. (Reg. No. 77)

Captain 23rd Regiment. (later the Royal Welch Fusiliers)

London Gazetted on 24th February 1857.

VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum.

Born on the 18th May 1824 at Kempsey, Worcestershire.

Died on 10th November 1879 at Belfast, Ireland.

Memorial on grave at Kempsey Churchyard, Worcestershire.

Digest of Citation reads: On 20th September 1854 in the Crimea, at the Battle of the Alma, Captain Bell was the first seize upon and capture one of the enemy's guns which was limbered up and being carried off. He moreover took over the command of his regiment, which he brought out of action, all his senior officers having been killed or wounded.

Additional information: Major-General Bell also held the Légion d'Honneur (France).

BELL, Eric Norman Frankland (Reg. No.. 78) Captain 9th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, attached to the Light Trench Mortar Battery.

London Gazetted on 26th September 1916.

VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Museum.

Born on 28th August 1895 at Enniskillen, Ireland.

Died on the 1st July 1916 at Thiepval, France.

Memorial on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Digest of Citation reads: On 1st July 1916 at atThiepval, France, when our front line was checked by enfilading machine-gun fire, Captain Bell crept forward and shot the machine gunner. Later, on no less than three occasions, when our bombing parties were unable to advance, he went forward alone and threw trench mortar bombs among the enemy. When he had no more bombs available, he stood on the parapet, under intense fire, and used a rifle with great coolness and effect on the enemy advancing to counter-attack. Finally, he was killed at rallying and reorganising infantry parties which had lost their officers.