The AIF Project

John Alfred Rudolph BELL

Regimental number6954
Place of birthColeraine, Ireland
Place of birthLondonderry, Ireland
SchoolMascosquin Intermediate School, Coleraine, Ireland
Age on arrival in Australia19
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationLabourer
AddressStation Lane, Cloncurry, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Height5' 11"
Weight165 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs C K Bell, Castleroe, Coleraine, Ireland
Enlistment date7 October 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll4 October 1916
Place of enlistmentCloncurry, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name9th Battalion, 23rd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/26/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A55 Kyarra on 17 November 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll49th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularWounded at Dernancourt, died at Etaples.
FateDied of wounds 10 April 1918
Place of death or woundingDernancourt, France
Age at death25
Age at death from cemetery records25
Place of burialEtaples Military Cemetery (Plot XXXIII, Row G, Grave No. 18), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
147
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Charlotte C. and the late William John BELL, Portstewart, Ireland
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Brisbane, 17 November 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 30 January 1917; marched in to 3rd Training Bn, 16 February 1917; proceeded overseas to France, 22 May 1917; marched in to 1st Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples, France, 23 May 1917; marched out to 49th Bn, Havre, 13 June 1917; taken on strength of 49th Bn, 21 June 1917.

Wounded in action and admitted to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, 13 August 1917 (sprained left elbow); transferred to 13th General Hospital, Boulogne, 15 August 1917; to No 1 Convalescent Depot, 17 August 1917; to Base, 21 August 1917.

Marched in to 4th Australian Infantry Base Depot, Havre, 23 August 1917; proceeded to join unit, 1 September 1917; rejoined unit, 7 September 1917.

Admitted to 21st Casualty Clearing Station, 11 December 1917 (abscess to face); transferred to Ambulance Train, 12 December 1917; to 9th General Hospital, Rouen, 13 December 1917; to No 2 Convalescent Depot, 26 December 1917; to 'M.B.' Depot, 29 December 1917; marched in to Australian Infantry Base Depot, 1 January 1918.

Admitted to Australian General Hospital, 5 January 1918 (dislocated nasal bones); discharged to Base, 10 January 1918.

Marched in to Australian Infantry Base Depot, 11 January 1918; marched out to join unit, 21 January 1918; rejoined 49th Bn in the field, 26 January 1918; on leave to England, 4 March 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 22 March 1918.

Wounded in action, 5 April 1918; admitted to 13th Australian Field Ambulance and transferred to 1st Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, 6 April 1918 (gun shot wound to back).

Died of wounds, France, 10 April 1918.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BELL John Alfred Rudolph

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.