Private David Bell
David Bell was born on 13 July 1895 at Lislunnan, Connor, County Antrim, the last of six children of carpenter William Bell and his wife Jane (née McCullough). Soon after they moved to Belfast, where his father died of pneumonia in October 1904. By the time of the 1911 Census, David was living at 27 Avoca Street with his mother and three of his four surviving siblings, and working as an apprentice clerk in a linen warehouse.
Bell enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 3 January 1916 (No.2054 – later Corps of Hussars No.71684). He gave his occupation as 'artist'. He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp, rising to the rank of acting corporal by October that year. On 16 January 1917 he embarked for France, having reverted to the rank of private. There he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. This regiment was serving as corps cavalry to VII Corps.
On 28 August 1917 Bell was sent to No.1 Aircraft Depot, Royal Flying Corps for a test (presumably of his skills in a particular trade prior to being transferred), but he was returned to the 1st NIH Regiment on 10 September.
On 14 November, however, Bell was transferred to the Royal Engineers (No.360566) with the rank of sapper. He was posted to the 3rd Field Survey Company and employed as a topographical draughtsman.
Bell remained with the Royal Engineers until the end of the war. On 23 February 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.