Orders, Decorations and Medals

Six: Lieutenant-Colonel J. V. Bell, Indian Army

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt.); India General Service 1908-35, 4 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Mahsud 1919-20, Waziristan 1919-21, North West Frontier 1935 (Lt., 2-9 G.R.), note: initials given as ‘J. E.’; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War and India Service Medals, mounted court style as worn, very fine (6) £240-280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Brigadier Brian Parritt, C.B.E..

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John Vincent Bell was born on 12 August 1898 and was commissioned on 21 December 1917 to the ‘Unattached List of the Indian Army’. He became a Lieutenant in the Indian Army on 21 December 1918 and joined the 2nd Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles. With his regiment he served on the N.W. Frontier, earning the first three clasps to his I.G.S. During the period November 1920-May 1921 Bell was attached to the 82nd Punjab Regiment with the Wana Column and became ‘Field Cashier’. Briefly, in September 1921, Bell was a Temporary Captain with the staff appointment of ‘Inspector of Messes’. He then transferred to the 5th Battalion 1st Punjab Infantry (former 82nd Punjab Regiment) and in December 1922 was promoted to Captain. During 1935 he gained the fourth clasp to his I.G.S. serving with his battalion as part of the Peshwar Brigade in the campaign to Waziristan commanded by Brigadier J. E. Auchinleck. In December 1935 he became a Company Commander in the 5/1st Punjab Regiment and was appointed Military Intelligence Officer in Bengal, October-December 1939.

The 5/1st Punjab Regiment was to see a great deal of action in the Burma Campaign and was one of the first to be committed. They were selected to be part of the 13th Indian Brigade and were sent to the Shan States in July 1941. In February 1942 they remained in the Keren Hills guarding the crossing of the Salween at Kemapyu, then fought numerous rearguard actions back across the River Irrawaddy through to Monywa and back across the River Chindwin. As part of the Rearguard, the 5/1st Punjab Regiment were to take part in the “longest, cruellest and most difficult withdrawal ever conducted by the British Army”. They fought a particularly fierce battle on the 18th April when, together with the 1st Battalion Inniskillen Fusiliers they tried to take Point 510 near Twingon. They failed to take the objective but killed many Japanese. As the Official History states - “The troops were desperately short of water and rations, the temperature reached 115 degrees and the stench of the burning oilfields was all pervading.” On reaching India the 5/1st Punjab Regiment went through a major reorganisation and then became part of the 14th Army. Once again they entered Burma and this time, in the Vanguard, fought their way back across the Chindwin and Irrawaddy and were on the outskirts of Rangoon when the Japanese capitulated.

John Bell was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in December 1943. He retired in April 1949 and was placed on the ‘Special List ex Indian Army’ and remained listed as such until 1951. Sold with copied research.