Charles Bell

Born: 1885

Died: 18 September 1917

Rank and Regiment: Private 37367 in the 10rth Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)

Resting Place: Chester Farm Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium - Plot II. Row A. Grave 13

Memorials: St. Peter and St. Paul, Barnham Broom, United Kingdom

Charles was born in 1884 in Barnham Broom to parents William, an agricultural labourer, and Susannah Bell. In 1891, he attended school and lived with his parents and two elder siblings, Mary and William. By 1901 he is the only one still living at home and like his father he is working as an ordinary agricultural labourer. In 1911, he is 26 years old, still single and living with his parents however later that year he married Rose Ireland. They had two sons, Frederick (born 1910) and Charles William (born 1912).

As the war came, Charles enlisted in Norwich into the 10th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and was attached to the 4th Motorised Transport Brigade. Virtually none of his military records survive but if Charles remained with his battalion, in 1917, he would have been stationed in Arras and Ypres and would have been part of a force that secured victories at the First Battle of Scarpe, the capture of Monchy-Le-Preu and the Battle of Pilkem Ridge. On 18th September 1917, Charles was killed in action.

His effects of £2. 11s. 7d. and his army pension were left to Rose and their two children.

Charles is buried in Chester Farm Cemetery in Belgium and Rose is listed as his next of kin. He is also commemorated on the Barnham Broom War Memorial.

Chester Farm Cemetery, Belgium