Ernest Bell 475769

Ernest Bell    475769

Ernest Bell was born in Warsaw, Ontario on April 16 1891, to parents Flegler and Matilda Bell.  The family farmed on lot 6 concession 6 of Dummer Township. 

Ernest was still working on the family farm at the time of the 1911 census, but like many young men left to work “out west” shortly after this date.

Ernest was working a farmer when he enlisted in the 3^rd Universities Company on July 13^th 1915 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  He was unmarried and had no previous military experience.  He was 23 years old, stood 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighed 112 pounds.   He had a medium complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.  He was Presbyterian.

Click for link to full service file

Ernest less than two months training with his unit in Canada before travelling overseas and arriving on September 14, 1915.  Upon arriving, the 3^rd Universities Company was disbanded and Bell was posted to the 11^th Reserve Battalion in England, where he also received a promotion in rank to Lance Corporal.  He spent the winter in England until being sent as a reinforcing draft to the Princess Pat’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) at East Sandling Camp on April 27, 1916.  The “Pat’s” were the longest serving Canadian battalion in the war to date, and they had been the only Canadian unit on the field in 1914.   Ernest reverted to rank of private at his own request and proceeded to France on May 16^th.  He joined the “Pats” at the front the next day. 

Bell spent four months in France and Belgium with the Patricia’s, at which time he would have seen steady action at the front. Of particular note was the P.P.C.L.I.’s stubborn and costly defense during the German attack on Mount Sorrel in June of 1916.  There the Patricia’s came under an intense bombardment and German infantry attack, that cost the PPCLI 400 casualties.  Bell came through the battle untouched.

His luck ran out when his battalion moved to France and into the Somme battlefield in September of 1916.  As part of a large allied offensive on the Somme, the Battalion attacked towards the town Courcellette on the 15^th of that month, capturing their first objective and 75 prisoners on the first day of the attack.  The second day of the attack, they began by receiving a heavy bombardment in their newly gained trenches.  Later that day the Princess Pat’s pushed on through heavy fighting to gain their second objective trench.  That night the battalion evacuated their wounded and buried their dead behind the lines, the 2 days costing the Battalion close to 300 casualties.

It is most likely that Pte. Ernest Bell was one of the evacuated wounded who left the front lines; his service file shows that he entered the #27 General Hospital in Camiers, France on Sept 17 with a shrapnel wound to his hand.  He was later transferred to England for medical treatment and arrived at Fulham Military Hospital on September 29. 

A medical description of Ernest Bell's injuries

Records show that Bell had been struck with a steel splinter which fractured 2 fingers on his left hand.  He was treated and discharged on October 7, 1916  at which time he entered the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley, Kent for 11 days.  He was then discharged to Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe on October 17 and posted to the 7^th Reserve Battalion to await his recovery and return to his unit.  During this time his fingers had not healed sufficiently well, and the tip of his ring finger on left hand had to be amputated.   

On the 12^th of December 1916, Pte. Bell went through a medical board examination to assess his current physical state.  Doctors noted that his “left hand closes imperfectly. All fingers stiff. … Left ring finger missing, lost as a result of wound. Has slight cough and has lost weight.“ The medical board recommended him for a C.1 rating, which would designate him fit for service only in England and not at the front.

He returned to the 7^th Reserve Battalion camp at Hastings, and was later promoted to Acting Corporal on January 25 1917.  Bell’s good luck did not last, and on March 02, 1917, was admitted to Canadian Military Hospital at Eastbourne, after he stumbled and fell against a bed stand and struck his head.  He received a deep cut on his brow, swelling and reduced vision.  He recovered completely by March 18, 1917, and was discharged back to the 7^th Reserve Camp at Hastings.  He later received another promotion to Acting Sergeant on May 11, 1917. 

Bell’s poor health soon became evident , and he was again re-admitted to hospital on August 10 1917, with Bronchitis, a condition he would later admit to have been suffering with since his arrival in France a year earlier.  He spent the next five months in and out of hospital until he boarded a ship and was invalided back to Canada on February 4, 1918. 

The medical history of Ernest Bell taken at Kingston, Ontario 1918

Upon arriving in Canada he traveled to Kingston and received over two months of treatment for his condition at Queen’s Medical Hospital.  In a final medical assessment on April 17, a Kingston medical board indicated that Bell had experienced chronic bronchitis beginning in France in September of 1916 caused by the trench conditions during service.  Doctors also noted that his chest was not well developed, and that he had a restriction of the sternum.  They described him as follows: “poorly nourished, coughs a great deal and has sputum in the mornings. No T.B. found in sputum, pains in lower right chest. Areas of dullness (slight) along base of right lung.”  They also noted that he had lost about 15 pounds (now weighing less than 100 lbs) and felt weak and tired easily with slight exertion.

Bell's description of his wartime service.

Ernest Bell received his official discharge on June 27^th 1918, due to medical unfitness and sickness.  He returned to civilian life, listing his occupation as “civil service” when he was married to Catherine Currie in Kingston on October 30 1918. Ernest Bell died on September 28, 1969 in Westminster Hospital in London, Ontario.

  

Details of Ernest Bell's Marriage
- Examiner Oct. 31 1918

Sources:

Library and Archives Canada online.  The Complete Military Service File of Ernest Bell Accessed April 01 2016.  RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 4930-35. www.bac-lac.gc.ca

Archives of Ontario, Canada, Select Marriages. Archives of Ontario, Series MS932; Reel 453

Archives of Ontario, Registrations of Births and Stillbirths-1869-1913, Reel: 107, Series MS929.  Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Library and Archives Canada. 1901 Census of Canada. Census Place: Dummer, Peterborough East, Ontario, Page 02, Family no.16.

Library and Archives Canada. 1911 Census of Canada.  RG 31-C-1; Folder Number 81, Census Place 21: Dummer Township, Peterborough East, Ontario. Family No. 5. Page 1.