lyns2803 Posted 24 November , 2020 Share Posted 24 November , 2020 Hoping someone out there can help... I’m in the process of researching our family tree and have found a connection to Gunner Eric John Bell, 645743, of the 29th Division, Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery. Eric was born to James and Margaret Bell on Great Northern Road, Aberdeen in 1897 and he died, aged 21, in Flanders on 14th October 1914. I am desperate to find a photograph of him but, other than a photo of his grave, (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) have had no luck so far. Can anyone please help? My thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 24 November , 2020 Share Posted 24 November , 2020 His death is mentioned in the Aberdeen newspapers, but his is not one of the photographs shown. (FMP) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyns2803 Posted 24 November , 2020 Author Share Posted 24 November , 2020 Thanks for posting these and taking the time to look. I’ve got a reference to a photo of him being printed in the Press and Journal (page 8) on 26/10/1918. I joined the British Newspaper Archives website to find it...and they’ve only printed the first 6 pages. The hunt continues! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 24 November , 2020 Share Posted 24 November , 2020 Welcome to the Forum, Eric almost certainly enlisted in one of the Aberdeen batteries of 1st Highland Brigade RFA. At some point he was posted to the Brigade Ammunition Column, but the absence of a 1914-15 Star indicates he did not go to France until January 1916 at the earliest. His six figure number falls in a large group that joined 51st Divisional Ammunition Column on May 17, 1916, when these Brigade Ammunition Columns were abolished. The renumbering was as of January 1, 1917, so one can assume he was still with 51st DAC. There must have been a lengthy period away from his unit (other than for leave) in order for him to be posted to 29th DAC. Finding a photo of an individual is not easy, having explored the newspaper route without success, I can only suggest trying to locate other family members. It is surprising what gets handed down through the most obscure route. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyns2803 Posted 24 November , 2020 Author Share Posted 24 November , 2020 David, thank you so much for this information. I’ve attached a photograph of his memorial which links him with the 255th brigade as well? Don’t know if that would explain the gap? I will be doing all I can to track down more relatives and hopefully that will turn something up. Thanks again; I wasn’t sure when he’d have enlisted and had suspicions he may have lied about his age to join up sooner. If it 1916, he’d have been 18. Still no age at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 24 November , 2020 Share Posted 24 November , 2020 255th Brigade RFA was 1/1st Highland Brigade RFA before May 1916. So that fits what I have already said. His earlier number of 1366 puts him enlisting in 2nd Aberdeen Battery a week or so after war was declared in August 1914. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyns2803 Posted 25 November , 2020 Author Share Posted 25 November , 2020 Thanks again David. He’d only have been 16 at that time. Would he have had to lie about his age to enlist at 16? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyns2803 Posted 26 November , 2020 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2020 A local family history page came up trumps and we now have a face to put to the name. Many thanks to everyone who took the time to reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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