Remembering Harold George Bell

ON SUNDAY, it will be 100 years since a Surf Coast boy was killed on a far-away battlefield.

Harold George Bell, always known to his family as “Sonny”, grew up at Addiscot, Bells Beach.

War broke out and in 1916, Harold enlisted with the army. Like most young Australians, he thought it would be a short-lived adventure, and was 24 years old when he left Australia with the 3rd/11th field infantry and landed in Plymouth for training at Swanage.

He wrote many letters to his family during this time: “it’s not a bad Camp at all, the meals are pretty fair and the Camp is right near town and we can go down any time after work but must be back in in time for roll call at 10pm”.

The Third battalion were the first Australians to train at Swanage and they received a fine welcome. The training was hard, the days were long, and the Australians suffered from the cold when winter arrived.

The English weather took its toll on Harold and he was hospitalised for two weeks with influenza and bronchitis.

On December 31, 1916, the third division moved to France. Harold, now attached to the 11th field artillery, was involved in the battle of Bullecourt, and his battalion in June fought in the Battle of Messines in Belgium.

His letters always urged his family not to worry: “My dear Dad. Nan seems to be worrying a lot about me she need not worry for a minute as I am a fair distance behind the line and only go up there now and again, so I am pretty safe compared to some of the poor chaps who practically live in the line.”

During heavy shelling on the morning of October 8, 1917, Harold was hit by a shell near Chateau Wood. While trying to dress his wounds, he was hit by a second shell and killed.

He was buried where he fell. His body was never recovered.

Harold’s name is inscribed on the memorial to the missing at the Menin Gate in Ypres.

More details about Sonny Bell can be found in the latest edition of Torquay Museum Without Walls’ History Matters magazine.