Bell, John Arthur (Arthur)
Private
No. 3568, 1st Battalion, Irish Guards
Killed in action on Tuesday 1 September 1914 (aged 23)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France
Comber Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mary’s)
BIOGRAPHY
John Arthur Bell was born on 10 December 1890 at Shane’s Castle, Randalstown, Co Antrim and he was a son of John Arthur Bell and Elizabeth (sometimes Eliza, sometimes Lizzie) Bell (nee Millar, sometimes Millan) who were married on 14 April 1876 in Marlfield Parish Church of Ireland Church. John Bell from Randalstown was a son of John Bell, a labourer. Eliza Millar, a teacher from Dervock, was a daughter of Robert Millar, a labourer.
John Arthur Bell Senior was a carpenter and he and Elizabeth had eight children including:
Robert (born around 1886)
Rose Elizabeth (born 12 February 1887)
John Arthur (born 10 December 1890 at Shane’s Castle, Randalstown, Co Antrim)
Four of their children died in childhood.
John Arthur Bell joined the Army before the outbreak of the Great War.
He enlisted in Antrim, served with the Irish Guards and went to France with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on 13 August 1914.
Private John Arthur Bell (No. 3568) was 23 when he was killed in action on 1 September 1914 and he has no known grave.
At the time of his death his father was living at Gwenville, Comber.
Private John Arthur Bell (No. 3568) is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France and in Comber Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mary’s).