Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Sergeant R. Bell, 10th Hussars, later Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (3268 Pte. R. Bell, 10th Hussars); 1914 Star, with copy slide clasp (15837 Sjt. R. Bell. 10/Hrs:) unit number corrected; British War and Victory Medals (15837 Sjt. R. Bell. 10-Hrs.) ‘Victory’ with official correction to unit; Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed; Army L.S. & G.C, E.VII.R. (3268 L. Sjt. R. Bell 10/Hrs.) mounted as worn, edge bruising and contact marks, fine and better (6) £400-£440

Richard Bell was born in Barnard Castle, Co. Durham. A labourer by occupation and a member of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Durham Light Infantry, he attested for the 10th Hussars on 5 January 1893. With the unit he served in South Africa, November 1899-February 1901; India, September 1906-November 1912 and South Africa, November 1912-January 1914. Awarded both the Delhi Durbar and Army L.S. & G.C. in 1911. Discharged at Gosport on 29 January 1914 at the expiration of the second period of engagement. With the start of the Great War he re-engaged with the 10th Hussars and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 6 October 1914 (Clasp confirmed. Star returned for amendment in October 1919). On 12 November 1914 he was wounded during the first battle of Ypres. In March 1917, Bell along with many other members of the regiment were transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and later, in November 1918, to the Royal Air Force. Appointed Flight Sergeant in October 1917 and Acting Sergeant-Major in August 1918, his employment is shown as Regimental/R.A.F. police during the later years of his service. He was discharged on 30 April 1920. He was ‘Mentioned for Valuable Service’ in Air Ministry Orders of 22 January 1919 and earned a ‘Mark of Distinction’ in a despatch dated 18 April 1921.

With copied service papers and m.i.c.