Photo of plaque M391BPhoto of plaques M391, M391A and M391B
Rank
Private
Appointment
Trooper
Service number
932
Unit
10 Light Horse Regiment
Cause of death
Killed in Action
Place of death
Hod El Fatir, Egypt
Date of death
9 August 1918
Age
21
Plaque number
M391B
Co-located plaques
M391 - PTE Allen Cooke
M391A - PTE Alexander McPhee
Dedicated by
Family on 12 November 2022
More information

Biography presented during plaque re-dedication:

Herbert Alexander Bell was born at Trummery, Magheramesk, Lisburn, Ireland in March 1895 to parents John Turtle and Emma Jane Bell (nee Patton). Herbert was one of four siblings, with three sisters.

He attended the Society of Friends Brookfield School, Ireland. On completing school, he worked as a teller of the Ulster Bank in Newtownards and Rostrevor branches. He resigned from the banks to commence farming near Lisburn and later became a merchant in Moira County Down.

The Bell family arrived in Australia around 1911 and by 1915 the family was living in Keane Street, Cottesloe with Herbert working as a warehouseman.

Herbert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in January 1915 at Perth where he was attached to 10 Light Horse Regiment. In April 1915, Herbert embarked from Fremantle aboard HMAT Hororata A20 with the fifth reinforcements of 10 Light Horse Regiment.

Herbert arrived on the Gallipoli Peninsula in July 1915 and in September was admitted to hospital with influenza. By December 1915 the Gallipoli campaign was over, with Herbert returning to Alexandria in December 1915.

At 3.00am on 9 August 1916, the 3 Light Horse Brigade stood to arms advancing towards the Turkish positions at Mushalfat. The Eight and Ninth Regiment led the advance with 10 Light Horse Regiment in reserve.

The Turkish positions were well dug in with the Eight Regiment dismounting on foot advancing with the Ninth in support. The Turks, who had excellent fields of fire, held the advance of both the regiments.

A section from 3 Machine Gun Squadron, which Herbert was attached to, assisted the Ninth Regiment with machine gun fire. The Turks engaged by returning fire towards Herbert’s machine gun. Herbet was fatally wounded while tending to a wounded comrade, Trooper Cooke, who was assisting him. Trooper Allen James Cooke, service number 46, died of wounds later in the day.

Trooper Herbert Alexander Bell, service number 932 of 10 Light Horse Regiment attached to 3 Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron was killed in action on 9 August 1916 at Hod El Fatir, Sinai. This action was known as the Hassanein Engagement Suez Canal Zone.

Herbert is buried at the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Suez Canal, Egypt and he is remembered with honour.

Herbert's plaque is placed alongside that of comrade Trooper Allen James Cooke and Trooper Alexander McPhee of the same regiment.

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