Perspectives On The Front

Name

William Bell

Regimental Number

472963

Battalion

72nd Battalion

Date of Birth

18 December, 1893 (22 Years Old)

Place of Birth

Carlisle, England

Address at Time of Enlistment

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Circumstances of Death

William Bell enlisted in Saskatoon in January 1916, and was living with his mother in Saskatoon (1021 Ave. “L” South) at the time of his enlistment, working as a farmer. He sailed to England in June and had only been in France a month, being Taken on Strength on August 17th.

On the night Bell was killed, the 72nd was deployed . Bell was a member of a raid was carried out on the night of the 16th/17th, consisting of one non-commissioned officer and three men who left the lines to examine the Battalion’s wire and to obtain evidence of enemy working parties.

A larger raid was taking place at the same time and owing to bright moonlight, the raiding party had to wait in No Man’s Land until the artillery opened at 12:15 am on the 17th before entering the enemy’s trenches.

Bell’s patrol was being subjected to heavy fire and the non-commissioned officer separated the party. One party lost their way and became entangled in the enemy’s wire. Heavy enemy fire was then opened up and Private Bell was hit first by a rifle bullet and later almost instantly killed by the explosion of a bomb.

Battalion diaries reported that the raid was successful and two prisoners were taken, but that all parties returned safely although five men were wounded, although two later died.