Private Clarence Bickford Bell
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- 5065
- Unit
- 48 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Mouquet Farm, France
- Date of death
- 31 August 1916
- Age
- 28
- Plaque number
- M330B
- Co-located plaques
- M330 - PTE James Matthews
- M330A - PTE Percival Grono
- Dedicated by
- Family on 18 April 1999
- More information
Biography abstract:
Clarence Bickford Bell was born in June 1888 at Whyte Yarcowie, South Australia to parents James Graham Bell also known as James Graham Hutton and Sarah Margaret Nourse who were married in August 1881 at Peterborough, South Australia.
Clarence was one of thirteen siblings with six brothers and six sisters. Attending state schooling in South Australia, the family moved to Western Australia, the exact time when they moved is unknown taking up farming at Gnowangerup.
By 1910, the electoral roll had Clarence in Boulder employed as a blacksmith. By 1916, records have him at an address in Katanning.
In February 1916, Clarence enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at Katanning, attending at Blackboy Hill to conduct his training.
In March 1916, he embarked for overseas service from Fremantle with the 16 reinforcements attached to 16 Battalion, disembarking in Egypt.
In June 1916, he embarked from Alexandria, disembarking at Marseilles France to join the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front in the Somme region.
It was in early August 1916 that Clarence was transferred to 48 Battalion moving into frontline near the village of Pozieres.
On the evening of 30 August 1916, the battalion marched from La Boisselle into the frontline to relieve 13 Battalion near Mouquet Farm, after other battalions had made unsuccessful attacks on the enemy frontline.
While moving under the cover of darkness via Chalk Pit, Centre Way, Old German 1 (OG1) and into OG2, the men stumbled through the night during an enemy bombardment. Progress was slow due to the heavy rain and boggy nature of the trenches, finally moving onto the left flank of the frontline facing Mouquet Farm.
Bursts of sporadic machine gun fire came from Mouquet Farm which hindered 48 Battalion digging into the trenches.
By morning, several artillery shells fired by their own artillery dropped short exploding in their trenches inflicting several casualties. Shortly after, the Germans fired a few shells into the sector occupied by 48 Battalion, with one shell exploding in the entrance of 48 Battalion headquarters killing and wounding several men.
By the end of the day on 31 August, there was a strong smell of phosphorus permeating through the trenches affecting the men. It was during this time that Clarence was killed by German artillery along with six other men. A Lieutenant along with nineteen other men had been wounded.
Private Clarence Bickford Bell, service number 5056 of 48 Battalion, was killed in action on 31 August 1916 at Mouquet Farm, Pozieres.
Clarence is buried in the AIF Burial Ground, Flers, France. He was 28 years of age and is remembered with honour.
Clarence’s plaque is located next to that of Private James William Matthews of 48 Battalion who was killed in action alongside him and with Private Percival Charles Grono, of the same unit and location.