Bell, William
Ex-Rifleman 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Died of disease on Thursday 10 November 1927 (aged 40)
Buried:
Newtownards (Movilla) Cemetery, Co. Down (Grave 1. 273)
Commemorated:
Newtownards and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
The name William Bell is listed on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in the booklet produced for the Unveiling and Dedication Ceremony held on Saturday 26 May 1934 he is described as a Rifleman in the Royal Irish Rifles. The organising committee of the day decided to include the names of ex-servicemen who died up to that date from what they considered to be war related causes, whether as a result of wounds or disease.
William Bell of 102 East Street Newtownards and ex-13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles died of a stomach ulcer in Downpatrick Mental Hospital on Thursday 10 November 1927 and his wife Margaret placed a death notice in the Newtownards Chronicle.
Ex-Rifleman William Bell was buried in Movilla Cemetery Newtownards at 3.00 pm on Saturday 12 November 1927.
William Bell was born on 1 September 1887 in Greenwell Street, Newtownards and he was a son of Robert and Mary Anne Bell (nee Blackstock) who were married on 2 May 1887 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s). Robert Bell (aged 21), a saddler from Greenwell Street, Newtownards was a son of William Bell, a saddler. Mary Anne Blackstock (aged 22) from Church Street, Newtownards was a daughter of James Blackstock, a labourer.
Robert Bell was a saddler and he and Mary Anne had eight children including:
William (born 1 September 1887 in Greenwell Street, Newtownards)
John (born 13 March 1892 in Greenwell Street, Newtownards)
Thomas (born 31 July 1896 in Greenwell Street, Newtownards)
Hugh Mafeking (born 19 May 1900 in Greenwell Street, Newtownards)
Isabella Jane (born 14 January 1902 in Market Street, Newtownards)
Francis (Frank, born 8 February 1909 in Market Street, Newtownards)
In 1901, William Bell (aged 13) was working in a mill.
William Bell and Margaret (Maggie) McCullough were married on 24 June 1911 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s). William Bell, a labourer from 102 East Street Newtownards, was a son of Robert Bell, a saddler. Maggie McCullough from Newtownards was a daughter of Robert McCullough, a weaver.
William and Margaret (Maggie) Bell (nee McCullough) had at least two children:
Robert McCullough (born 21 January 1912 at 102 East Street Newtownards)
Mary Ann (born 5 May 1913 at 102 East Street Newtownards)
Ex-Rifleman William Bell is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial.