Frederick William Bell
Lieutenant, West Australian Mounted Infantry
- Register No.
- 79 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- West Australian Mounted Infantry all West Australian Mounted Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 16 May 1901 on this day → all of 1901 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Boer War
- London Gazette
- 4th October 1901 on this day → all of 1901 →
- Born
- 3rd April 1875 at Perth, Western Australia
- Died
- 28th April 1954 at Bristol, England
- Memorial / grave
- Canford Cemetery, Bristol and Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
- Medal held by
- the Western Australia Museum
Digest of citation
On 16th May 1901 at Brakpan, Transvaal, South Africa, when retiring under heavy fire, Lieutenant Bell noticed a man dismounted. He returned and took him up behind him, but the horse not been equal to the weight, fell with them. The Lieutenant then remained behind, covering the man's retirement until he was out of danger
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BELL, Frederick William (Reg. No. 79).
Lieutenant West Australian Mounted Infantry.
London Gazetted on 4th October 1901.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Western Australia Museum.
Born on 3rd April 1875 at Perth, Western Australia.
Died on 28th April 1954 at Bristol, England.
Memorials at Canford Cemetery, Bristol and Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 16th May 1901 at Brakpan, Transvaal, South Africa, when retiring under heavy fire, Lieutenant Bell noticed a man dismounted. He returned and took him up behind him, but the horse not been equal to the weight, fell with them. The Lieutenant then remained behind, covering the man's retirement until he was out of danger.
Additional information he was Commandant of the embarkation camps at Plymouth during the First World War. After the war he was a Political officer, in British Somaliland. He became the senior Administrative officer, northern Nigeria and Kenya Colony.
Additional information: Final rank was Lt. Colonel.
Additional information
at Plymouth during the First World War. After the war he was a Political officer, in British Somaliland. He became the senior Administrative officer, northern Nigeria and Kenya Colony. Final rank was Lt. Colonel
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Canford Cemetery, Bristol and Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
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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