condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Cenotaph record

Francis Dickens Bell

-
Lay a poppy
Francis Dickens Bell portrait - This image may be subject to copyright

Francis Dickens Bell portrait - This image may be subject to copyright

Identity

About

Contribute ›
  • Title
  • Forenames
    Francis Dickens AWMM
  • Surname
    Bell AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Frank AWMM
  • Service number
    112051 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Anglican, Christian AWMM

Civilian life

About birth

Contribute ›
  • Birth
    11 January 1921 AWMM Cambridge, Waikato AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Pre 22 August 1940 AWMM 19 Ascot Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    J.A. Henry Bell (father), Puketaha Road, Puketaha, Hamilton, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 9 December 1942 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

Contribute ›

Military decorations

Contribute ›

Training and Enlistment

Contribute ›
  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 22 August 1940 AWMM
    Age 19 AWMM
    Audit cadet/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Prisoner of war

Contribute ›
  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

Contribute ›
  • Medical notes
    • Height, Unknown Period AWMM
      5 foot 6 inches AWMM
    • Eye colour, Unknown Period AWMM
      Blue AWMM
    • Hair colour, Unknown Period AWMM
      Fair AWMM
    • Complexion, Unknown Period AWMM
      Fair AWMM
    • Died of Disease, Cause of Death AWMM
      Brain haemorrhage AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

Contribute ›
    • Son of Amy and John Bell

      Educated in Cambridge, went to Wellington to look for work.

      Called up as a territorial and in the NZ Scottish Regiment in Wanganui, Featherston, Carterton during 1940 and 1941. Demobbed April 1941

      Recalled to service after bombing of Pearl Harbour

      Trained at Tauherenikau racecourse at Featherston, the sent to Defence Platoon Brigade HQ at Carterton

      Marched into Maadi Camp with friend Leo Blomfield, Halvor Halvorsen, Cookie MacGregor and Gordon Ross all joining Signals Corps and then B Company of the 21st Battalion

      Saw the bombing of Cassino but left before the main battle to return to Advance Base at Bari

      Arrived back in New Zealand 30 September 1945

      Auditor for Kilbirnie RSA accounts

      Author of All Saints Church Hataitai-Kilbirnie 100 : continuing the story : from the parish jubilee 1978 to the centenary 1994; and All Saints' Church, Hataitai-Kilbirnie : jubilee history AWMM
    • Youngest son of Amy and (John August) Henry Bell, farmer and carrier at Puketaha and Cambridge.
      Frank was an auditor in the Audit Department in Wellington for 45 years, retiring in 1985, having written the official history of the department.. Public - Sue - Child - 17 August 2017 - Family papers
    • Medals
      1939-1945 Star for service in WW2
      Africa Star for service in North Africa 8th Army clasp on full Public - Sue - Child - 19 August 2017 - Military personnel file
Read more

Death

About death

Contribute ›
  • Death
    • 15 November 2003 AWMM
      Age 82 AWMM
      AWMM
    • 15 November 2003 21Bn Assoc. Inc. Records. MS-2008-42.
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Died of Disease AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Hautapu Cemetery, Cambridge, New Zealand AWMM Block O. Row 1. Plot 32. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Death Notice: NZ Herald 17 November 2003 AWMM
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

Contribute ›
  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Francis Dickens Bell by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Francis Dickens Bell

Leave a note

Contribute ›

Sources

Sources

Contribute ›
  • External links
  • References
    • 21 Battalion (Official history of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939-45) AWMM
      Cenotaph data entry form AWMM
    • 21 Battalion (Official history of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939-45) AWMM
    • The New Zealand Herald AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 9 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1942 to 31st December, 1942). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 9: WW2 29 AWMM
    • Auckland Museum Armoury Resource Centre, Biographical vertical file AWMM
      ACF122096 - Family biography AWMM
    • The New Zealand Herald AWMM
      Death Notice:17 November 2003 AWMM
    • Veterans' club : the comradeship and memories of Auckland's 21st infantry battalion. Auckland War Memorial Museum : Auckland. Accompanies exhibition held in the Pictorial Gallery, second floor, Auckland War Memorial Museum, 24 March-21 May 2006. AWMM
    • 21 New Zealand Infantry Battalion Association Inc. Records, 1955 - 2005. Auckland War Memorial Museum. MS-2008-42. AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
19 August 2017SueRemuera, AucklandChild

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Creative Commons LicenseOnline Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.