Captain Eric Norman Frankland Bell
109th Infantry Brigade, 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
(Tyrone Volunteers)

For most conspicuous bravery at Thiepval
1st July 1916

Age : 20

No known grave. Remembered on on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

Captain Bell was in command of a trench mortar battery and advanced with the Infantry to the attack. When our front line was hung up by enfilading machine-gun fire, Captain Bell crept forward and shot the machine gunner. Later, on no less than three occasions when our bombing parties, which were clearing the enemy trenches were unable to advance, he went forward alone and threw trench mortar bombs among the enemy. When he had no more bomb available, he stood on the parapet, under intense fire, and used a rifle with great coolness and effect on the enemy advancing to counter attack. Finally he was killed rallying and re-organising Infantry units which had lost their officers. All this was outside the scope of his normal duties with his battery. He gave his life in his supreme devotion to duty. Captain Bell's citation from the London Gazette, September 26th 1916 reads :
"For most conspicuous bravery, when the front line was held up by enfilading machine gun fire, Captain Bell crept forward and shot the machine gunner. Later, on no less than three occasions when the bombing parties that were clearing the enemies trenches were unable to advance, he went forward alone and threw trench mortars among the enemy. When he had no more bombs available, he stood on the parapet under intense fire and used a rifle with great coolness and effect on the enemy advancing to counter attack.
Finally he was killed rallying and reorganising infantry parties, which had lost their officers. All this was outside the scope of his normal duties with his battery.
He gave his life in his supreme devotion to duty."

His Victoria Cross was presented to his family on November 29th 1916, by King George V at Buckingham Palace.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
WE WILL REMEMBER HIM

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