Nigel Bell Posted 27 April , 2017 Share Posted 27 April , 2017 Can anyone provide help with researching a medal record for a WW1 relative Bernard Bell DSO. I know he finished as a major but not sure how long he was in the army Any pointers gratefully received. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 27 April , 2017 Share Posted 27 April , 2017 Best set of pointers about how to find info is on this link. http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/how-to-research-a-soldier/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bell Posted 27 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2017 Many thanks - will give this a try Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 27 April , 2017 Share Posted 27 April , 2017 Hi Nigel, Was he Frederick Bernard Bell? Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolymoleyRE Posted 27 April , 2017 Share Posted 27 April , 2017 (edited) Beat me to it Chris,I was going to query the correct name. Edited 27 April , 2017 by HolymoleyRE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bell Posted 27 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2017 Hi there No he was Bernard Arthur Bell born 15 Nov 1891. He was decorated DSO and moved to Australia after WW1 - hence loss of contact . I did come across a Frederick Bernard Bell but he's not the same Bell ... Many thanks Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langdon Posted 27 April , 2017 Share Posted 27 April , 2017 There's an MIC and Medal rolls (Victory & British War Medals & 1914-15 Star) on Ancestry - under B.A. Bell - 1/4th West Riding Regiment - date of entry, France, 14th April 1915 Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bell Posted 27 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2017 Many thanks . That must be him.. Thanks for your help Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langdon Posted 27 April , 2017 Share Posted 27 April , 2017 Here is the MIC downloadable (for a fee) at the National Archives Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 27 April , 2017 Share Posted 27 April , 2017 (edited) Died 1954 in Australia?? if so https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/105930499/person/410047764385/facts Edited 27 April , 2017 by stiletto_33853 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBrook Posted 27 April , 2017 Share Posted 27 April , 2017 If it's Bernard Arthur Bell, initially 1/4th Battn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), he was gazetted 2nd Lt. on 1 September 1914 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28886/page/6911 and he relinquished his commission on account of ill-health caused by wounds, then Captain in 7th Battn., West Riding Regt., on 2 March 1919. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31207/supplement/2947 He was a Territorial Force Officer. He was not a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [D.S.O.]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolymoleyRE Posted 27 April , 2017 Share Posted 27 April , 2017 If it's a WW1 DSO awarded to British, and I believe Imperial/Colonial forces it should be in here. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6086717 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bell Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 thanks to everyone. I think I need to do more research - possibly through the archives dept with the Duke of Wellington's regt.(west riding). Thanks again. I'm certain he was a DSO - we have his medal still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin spof Posted 28 April , 2017 Admin Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Hi Nigel I've edited the title of the thread in case someone who knows of your man sees it and can help further. Glen GWF Admin Team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 28 April , 2017 Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Hi Nigel, The war diary for 1/4th West Riding Regiment appears to have been split in to 5 parts (at £3.50 a go) by the National Archives (TNA) - downloadable from here. His WW1 service record is also at the National Archives TNA, but isn't available to download - see here. If you can't visit, it may be cheaper to use a file copying service, rather than getting TNA to send you a copy. It would perhaps be worth establishing if he always served overseas with the 1/4th Battalion, or if for example he was attached to another unit at any time. Hopefully this link will take you to a page where you can find his WW2 Australian file reference by using the name search. The file hasn't been digitalised yet, but going through the order process it looks like you could get one for $69 AUD. Sorry I can't post a link direct to the record page. It would only go through to a generic 'session expired' screen. The records relating to DSO awards are in the WO 390 series here at TNA. The indices where the files are titled "Alphabetical Index..." and have the WO 390/x/y reference structure are free downloads. To get the actual registers as free downloads you need to get the ones that are titled by date range (e.g. this one) and have the reference structure WO 390/x. For some unknown reason if you try to download them in sub sections, you'd end up paying £3.50 a go - I think. Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bell Posted 1 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2017 Many thanks Chris - a great help. I will follow your suggestion and go to national archives directly I think. Again many thanks Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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