Private John Bell
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present, other than that he was born around 1898 and that his religion was recorded as Wesleyan.
John Bell enlisted as a driver in the Army Service Corps (Horse Transport section) in February or March 1915 (No.059077). He embarked for France around June 1916. Between 3 and 6 September 1917 he transferred to the North Irish Horse (No.2674).
In August-September 1917 the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Bell, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Bell was issued regimental number 41411 and posted to A Company.
He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.
He was briefly hospitalised, from 12 February to 1 March 1918, suffering from measles and scabies.
Bell was one of the many posted as missing following the 9th (NIH) Battalion's fighting withdrawal from St Quentin from 21 to 28 March 1918 during the German spring offensive. Nothing more has been discovered about his military service during the remainder of the war.