Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Lieutenant-Commander P. R. K. Bell, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Minesweeping 1945-51 (Lieut. P. R. K. Bell. R.N.) official corrections to rank and initials, mounted court-style as worn, nearly very fine (5) £300-£400

Peter Roocroft Kenyon Bell was born in Wigan on 12 June 1925, and was appointed a Temporary Midshipman in the R.N.V.R. on 24 December 1942. On completion of his basic training ashore he was appointed on 2 September 1944 to M.T.B. 764, a Fairmile D-type Motor Torpedo Boat serving with the 52nd M.T.B. Flotilla. The flotilla under the command of Lieutenant-Commander F. C. Russel-Roberts, R.N.V.R., and was based at Dartmouth between October 1943 and November 1944. A second formation of the 52nd that included M.T.B. 764 was later raised under the command of Lieutenant Commander A. R. H. Nye. This new flotilla was based at Yarmouth, later at Ostend, and operated from November 1944 to September 1945. Completing twelve months’ service, Bell was promoted to Acting Sub Lieutenant R.N.V.R. on 12 December 1944, and also became the 1st Lieutenant of M.T.B. 764. On leaving this boat he was appointed commanding officer of M.T.B. 2013 on 24 April 1945, and received the promotion to Sub Lieutenant R.N.V.R. on 12 June 1945. In June 1945 he became 1st Lieutenant of M.T.B. 2016 commanded by Lieutenant A. C. B. Blomfield DSC**, R.N., Senior Officer of the 2nd M.T.B. flotilla. His promotion to Acting Lieutenant R.N.V.R. followed in July.

In 1946, Bell accepted an invitation to transfer to the Royal Navy and was granted a permanent commission as a Sub Lieutenant with seniority of 12 June 1945. He was promoted to Lieutenant R.N. on 12 June 1947, and next appointed 1st Lieutenant of the Trawler H.M.S. Sursay on 30 November 1947. The Sursay was a specially constructed Minesweeping and Anti-Submarine Trawler, and was an ideal choice of ship for post-War mine clearance operations. Service in this ship over the next two and a half years qualified Bell for the award of the N.G.S. medal with clasp ‘Minesweeping 1945-51’. On leaving Sursay he was appointed, on 19 June 1950, to the 2,300-tonne fleet repair H.M.S. Resource, and after fifteen months in this posting he was appointed to the maintenance and trials aircraft carrier H.M.S. Perseus.

Although he chose to retire in December 1951, Bell allowed his name to be placed on the emergency list of officers who would voluntarily return to active service in a national crisis. Due to the Korean War, he was never released and was immediately recalled to active service and continued to serve aboard Perseus for a further two years.

In 1953 he withdrew his request for retirement and elected to remain with the Royal Navy, and his next appointment extended his service in aircraft carriers. On 7 December 1953 he joined H.M.S. Theseus, Flag Ship of Rear Admiral S. H. Carlill, C.B., D.S.O., Flag Officer Training Squadron, Home Fleet, and whilst serving in this ship he was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander on 12 June 1955. After five and a half years in aircraft carriers, his next appointment was ashore to H.M.S. Victory, and the Royal Naval Barracks at Portsmouth. On 23 April 1956 he was transferred to H.M.S. Bellerophon, Depot Ship, Portsmouth.

Bell returned to sea on 1 March 1958 as 1st Lieutenant of the destroyer H.M.S. Caprice. After two years in this ship he returned ashore with an appointment in 1960 to H.M.S. Royal Arthur, the Petty Officers Leadership School at Corsham, Wiltshire. On 8 February 1963 he was appointed to H.M.S. Dolphin as 1st Lieutenant at Fort Blockhouse, where he continued to serve until he retired on 27 March 1965, after 21 years’ service. He died in on 26 March 2000 in North Devon, aged 74 years.