Born: 1892, Bradford
Died: 9 April 1918
Buried:
Address: 7 Acre Avenue, Eccleshill
Parents: Thomas & Harriet Hannah, nee Jennings
Spouse: Lily, nee Richmond
Siblings:
Occupation:
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park & St Luke’s; Ploegsteert Memorial
Children: Phyllis
Regiment: Yorkshire Regt
Willie Bell
Willie Bell was born in 1882 in
Bradford, the son of Thomas Bell and
Harriet Hannah Jennings.
Thomas and Harriet had married on
the 29th September 1883 at St
Peter’s Parish Church. Thomas was
21 years of age, an iron founder’s
labourer and Harriet was 19 years of
age living at 13 Butler Street, the
daughter of Samuel Jennings, a
mechanic.
There is no further trace of this family
until the marriage of Willie to Lily
Richmond in 1916 while Willie was at
home on leave from the front.
Lily had been born in Bradford in
1895 and in 1911 was living at 599
Killinghall Road with her parents Ben
and Sarah Jane Richmond.
Willie and Lily had one daughter,
Phyllis, born in 1917 and at the time
of Willie’s enlistment the family were
living at 7 Acre Avenue, Eccleshill.
On the 7th April 1915 Willie enlisted
as Private 33759 in Alexandra
Princess of Wales Own (Yorkshire
Regiment) 12th Battalion.
The Battalion landed in Le Havre in
September 1915 as part of the 63rd
Infantry Brigade for service on the
Western Front.
On the 9th April 1918 the German
offensive in Lys began with the
objective of capturing Ypres and
forcing the British back to the coastal
ports. The battle lasted until the 29th
April when the Germans called off the
offensive. Willie was killed in action
on the first day of the battle.
He is remembered at the Ploegsteert
Memorial which commemorates more
than 11,000 servicemen who died in
this sector during the First World War
and have no known grave.
He left his effects to his widow who
received £12. 7. 4d on the 5th July
1919 which included his war gratuity
of £5. 10. 0d.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
