Eric Norman Frankland Bell
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Eric Norman Frankland Bell VC (28 August 1895 - 1 July 1916) was born Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland and was by birth an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 20 years old, and a Temporary Captain in the 9th Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, British Army, attached to Light Trench Mortar Bty. during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 1 July 1916, at Thiepval, France, when our front line was checked by enfilading machine-gun fire, Captain Bell crept forward and shot the machine-gunner. Later, on no less than three occasions, when our bombing parties were unable to advance, he went forward alone and threw trench mortar bombs among the enemy. When he had no more bombs available, he stood on the parapet, under intense fire, and used a rifle with great coolness and effect on the enemy advancing to counter-attack. Finally, he was killed rallying and reorganising infantry parties which had lost their officers.
[edit] References
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
- Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
[edit] External links
- Burial location of Eric Bell "No known grave. Name of the Thiepval Memorial, France"
- News item "Eric Bell's Victoria Cross donated to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Museum"
