Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘Battle of Bapaume’ M.C. group of eleven awarded to ‘The Man of Many Regiments’ Lieutenant H. L. ‘Tiger’ Bell, Royal Fusiliers, attached South Staffordshire Regiment, who over the course of a 45 year service career served with 16 different units, including the Transvaal Scottish, the Royal Durban Light Infantry, and the South African Air Force during the Second World War

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse privately engraved ‘H. L. Bell, 1st. London Regt., won with 4th. Sth. Staffords, March 1918’; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. H. L. Bell.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, the Second War awards all officially named ‘27203 H. L. Bell’; Coronation 1953; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Union of South Africa, with Second Award Bar (No.27203 (V) W.O. 11 H. L. Bell. -S.A.A.F.); John Chard Decoration, E.II.R., officially numbered ‘29’, with crossed swords emblem on riband, mounted as worn; together with a French ‘Combattants de la Somme 1914-18-40’ Medal, the Great War awards somewhat worn, therefore nearly very fine, the rest good very fine (12) £1,500-£2,000

M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went forward with a Lewis gun and two men when the enemy were about to attack. By carefully ranging his gun he succeeded in putting a number of the enemy out of action and in breaking up their attack. Later in the day, when his Company Commander became a casualty, he took command and led his men with marked skill.’

Henry Leonard Bell was born in New Zealand on 24 March 1898, the son of the Eastern General Manager of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company, and was educated at Colet Court and St. Paul’s School, London. Whilst still at school he did night training with the Royal Fusiliers, and, upon leaving school, joined the 28th Battalion, London Regiment (Artists Rifles), before being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers (Territorial Force).
Posted on attachment to the 4th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, he served during the Great War on the Western Front as part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, and was present at the Battles of Festinbeit, Arras, Bailleul, Bethune, Cambrai, and Albert, and Bapaume.

On 24 March 1918, his 20th Birthday, Bell’s battalion suffered heavy casualties at the Battle of Bapaume- going in a thousand strong they came out with less than 100 men, and just two officers, Bell being one of them. He was wounded, being blown up four times during the course of the battle, and for his gallantry that day he was awarded the Military Cross. Suffering paralysis to his right leg, he spent nine months in a London hospital, before returning to France post-Armistice, where he was appointed Adjutant of the 30th Labour Group, with the rank of Acting Major. He relinquished his commission in 1919, and retained the rank of Lieutenant.

Emigrating to South Africa, on the advice of his doctor, who felt that the open air life would be beneficial to his injuries, he took up farming, and joined the Transvaal Scottish in 1935, being posted to the 2nd Battalion. Promoted to Company Sergeant Major within three months, he served with them during the Second World War in North Africa as Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. Following the Battle of Tobruk, he was posted to the Royal Durban Light Infantry, and served with them during the Battle of El Alamein, before returning to South Africa. Too old by this stage to get back into the field as an infantry soldier, he joined the South African Air Force, and was posted as Wing Sergeant Major to the Greek Air Wing of the Royal Hellenic Air Force, then training in Johannesburg. He subsequently tried to secure an operational posting for himself in Burma, on the basis that he had a good knowledge of that part of the world (although in reality this consisted of having lived in Singapore with his parents for three years as an infant), but instead served with No. 24 Bomber Squadron, S.A.A.F. in Italy, before returning to South Africa. His final posting during the Second World War was as Camp R.S.M. at Hecor Norris Park Demobilization Camp.

Following the cessation of hostilities, Bell rejoined the Transvaal Scottish, before transferring to the Technical Service Corps as Regimental Sergeant Major in 1951. He finally retired on account of his age in 1960.

Sold with a photograph of the recipient taken in later life wearing his medals, and details of the recipient’s service career as published in The Jock Column.

For the recipient’s related miniature awards, see Lot 1210.