Donald Simpson Bell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donald Simpson Bell
|
|
|---|---|
Donald Simpson Bell as depicted on a cigarette card.
|
|
| Born | 3 December 1890 Harrogate, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 10 July 1916 (aged 25) near Contalmaison, France |
| Buried |
Gordon Dump Cemetery, France
|
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1915–1916 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
| Other work | Teacher Footballer |
Donald Simpson Bell (born December 3, 1890 – died July 10, 1916) was a brave English soldier. He was also a school teacher and a professional football player. During World War I, he received the Victoria Cross (VC). This is the highest award for bravery in the British military. He earned it for his actions during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Donald Bell is the only English professional football player ever to receive the Victoria Cross.
Contents
Football Star
Donald Bell was born in Harrogate on December 3, 1890. His parents were Smith and Annie Bell. He went to St Peter's Church of England Primary School. Later, he attended Harrogate Grammar School. After that, he studied at Westminster College, London. He trained there to become a teacher.
Donald was a very good sportsman in college. He played football as an amateur for Crystal Palace. Then he played for Newcastle United. After college, he returned to Harrogate. He became a schoolteacher at Starbeck Council School. This school is now called Starbeck Primary School.
To earn more money, he signed a professional contract in 1912. He joined Bradford (Park Avenue). He played six games for the club between 1912 and 1914. He played as a defender or a midfielder.
Hero in World War I
When World War I began, Donald Bell was the first professional footballer to join the British Army. He joined the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal. Then he became a Second Lieutenant in the 9th Battalion. This was part of the Green Howards Regiment.
In November 1915, he went to France to fight. While on leave in June 1916, he married Rhoda Margaret née Bonson. Soon after, he returned to the war front. His battalion was in reserve for the start of the Battle of the Somme. On July 5, they were sent to the front line.
Bravery at Horseshoe Trench
Donald Bell earned the Victoria Cross for his actions on July 5, 1916. This happened at Horseshoe Trench in Somme, France.
For most conspicuous bravery. During an attack a very heavy enfilade fire was opened on the attacking company by a hostile machine gun. 2nd Lt. Bell immediately, and on his own initiative, crept up a communication trench and then, followed by Corpl. Colwill and Pte. Batey, rushed across the open under very heavy fire and attacked the machine gun, shooting the firer with his revolver, and destroying gun and personnel with bombs. This very brave act saved many lives and ensured the success of the attack. Five days later this very gallant officer lost his life performing a very similar act of bravery.
This means that during a battle, a German machine gun was firing heavily from the side. This was very dangerous for his company. Second Lieutenant Bell quickly decided to act. He crawled along a trench that connected to the enemy's position. Then, with two other soldiers, he ran across open ground. They were under heavy enemy fire. He attacked the machine gun. He shot the enemy soldier firing it with his revolver. Then he destroyed the machine gun and its crew with bombs (small explosives). This incredibly brave act saved many lives. It also helped his company succeed in their attack.
Donald Bell wrote a letter to his parents about this event. He said, "I must confess that it was the biggest fluke alive and I did nothing. I only chucked one bomb, but it did the trick."
Final Sacrifice
Just five days later, on July 10, 1916, Donald Bell was killed. A sniper (a hidden shooter) shot him in the head. This happened while he was attacking another machine-gun post. It was near the village of Contalmaison.
He is buried at Gordon Dump Cemetery. This cemetery is near Albert in France. His Victoria Cross medal was once shown at the Green Howards Museum in Richmond, Yorkshire. On November 25, 2010, the medal was sold at an auction. The Professional Footballers' Association bought it for about £210,000. Now, it is on display at the National Football Museum in Manchester.
Remembering a Hero
On July 9, 2000, a special memorial was unveiled for Donald Bell. It was placed exactly where he lost his life in Contalmaison. This spot is now called Bell's Redoubt. General The Lord Dannatt unveiled the memorial. Television covered the event. Every year since then, a small service is held there to remember him.
In 2010, they celebrated the tenth anniversary of the memorial. In 2016, a remembrance service was held for the hundredth anniversary of his bravery. There is also a memorial plaque for him in Wesley Methodist Church in Harrogate. He used to be a Sunday School Teacher there.
