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Cenotaph record

Gladstone Henry Bell

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Ex Officers' Book, 14th Brigade

Major G H Bell

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Gladstone Henry AWMM
  • Surname
    Bell AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    71151 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    8 October 1908 AWMM Gisborne, Gisborne AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
    Gisborne Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 7 November 2023 - Military Record
  • Birth notes
    Son of Arthur Gladstone & Ida Mary BELL of Gisborne Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 7 November 2023 - NZ BDM Birth Records
  • Address before enlistment
    • WW2 Pre 1942 AWMM 7 France Rd., Napier AWMM
    • WW2 Pre 1942 AWMM 7 France Rd., Napier AWMM
    • WW2 Pre 1945 AWMM 7 France Rd., Napier AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW2 Mrs. R.L. Bell, 267 Remuera Rd., Remuera, Auckland (w) AWMM
    • WW2 Mrs. R.L. Bell, 267 Remuera Rd., Remuera, Auckland (w) AWMM
    • WW2 Mrs. R.L. Bell, 267 Remuera Rd., Remuera, Auckland (w) AWMM
  • Relationship status
    1937 Gladstone Henry BELL married Rae Lilla Frances HOGAN Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 7 November 2023 - NZ BDM Marriage Records

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) AWMM
      DSO: NZ Gazette, 30 April 1946. Citation: "Major Gladstone Bell was commanding No 3 Coy of 27 New Zealand Battalion during the assault of 9 New Zealand Infantry Brigade across the Sillaro River on the night 15/16 April 1945. No 3 was the left forward attacking Coy and the success of the Battalion attack was largely due to speed and skill with which the coy accounted for a total kill of four enemy tanks, three Panthers and one Tiger, which were successful [sic] stalked and destroyed by means of PIATs and Number 77 Grenades. Major Bell set the example to his men by attacking in person under heavy machine gun fire the first tank encountered and setting it on fire by means of Number 77 Grenades, upon which it attempted to withdraw and was destroyed by Piat bombs. He further inspired and directed the operations against the remaining three tanks. The operation was the first assault that the unit, late a Medium Machine Gun Battalion, had carried out as an Infantry Battalion and the great success achieved by No 3 Coy was solely due to the care and forethought of Major Bell during the attack. When the Battalion was withdrawn into reserve after its actions on the Ganaia Canals Major Bell was appointed as temporary second in command of the unit. During the very rapid advance of the 9 New Zealand Infantry Brigade from the Po to Trieste and its attendant administrative difficulties, Major Bell's organising ability and indefatigable efforts were invaluable. Throughout the whole of the operations; [sic] from the crossing of the Senio River until the final entry into Trieste, his coolness under fire and pressure of work were an inspiration to the men under his command and of the utmost value to his commanding officer." AWMM
    • 1939-1945 Star AWMM
    • Pacific Star AWMM
    • Italy Star AWMM
    • Defence Medal AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 School teacher/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details
    WW2 Private AWMM

Prisoner of war

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

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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Death

About death

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  • Death
    27 May 1967 AWMM
    Age 58 AWMM
    Taupo, Waikato AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
    Napier Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 7 November 2023 - Refer to NZ Archives - Will of G H BELL
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
    Havelock North Cemetery Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 7 November 2023 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205579857/gladstone-henry-bell
  • Grave reference
    Plot: G/#/608 Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 7 November 2023 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205579857/gladstone-henry-bell
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1942). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 5 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1941 to 30 September, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
    • Kay, R. (1958). 27 (Machine Gun) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • Nominal Rolls - Embarkation N-Force [Norfolk Force Embarkation Rolls], Archives New Zealand, Wellington, AAYS 8638 AD1/1428 (R22440218) AWMM
    • Gillespie, O. (1952). The Pacific. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
07 November 2023Lorraine MonaGisborne Researcher
09 November 2017DaleAucklandChild

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