Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant H. H. Bell, Royal Naval Reserve, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his roll in rescuing 246 survivors from the torpedoed S.S. Arabia on 6 November 1916, and after a perilous 40 hour voyage conveyed them to safety

1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. H. Bell. R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. H. H. Bell.) extremely fine (3) £80-£120

M.I.D. London Gazette 27 June 1917.
The original Recommendation, for service in Auxiliary Patrols to 31 December 1916, states: ‘On 2 October 1916, H.M. Trawler Orphesia [of which Bell was the Captain] had an engagement with an enemy submarine at a range of about 2,000 yards. The first shot was observed to strike the submarine and exploded near the conning tower.
On 6 November 1916 he rescued 246 survivors from the torpedoed S.S. Arabia. These passengers were on board for a period of 40 hours, during most of which time his vessel was steaming against a heavy head sea. The survivors speak most highly of the seamanship displayed by this officer and the care and consideration they received from him and from all members of his crew during this trying experience. This officer has always carried out his duties in a highly satisfactory manner.’

Harry Hunter Bell was born in Goole, Yorkshire, in 1875 and gained his Master’s Certificate on 21 December 1906. He served during the Great War as a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve, carrying out mine-sweeping duties in the Eastern Mediterranean in the trawler Orphesia, until his vessel struck a submerged wreck on 22 July 1917 and subsequently foundered off Alexandria, without loss of life. He died on 9 December 1924.