Donald Simpson Bell
Encyclopedia
Donald Simpson Bell VC
(3 December 1890 – 10 July 1916) was an English
school teacher and professional footballer. During the First World War he was awarded the Victoria Cross
for actions in the Somme.
before going to Westminster College. A noted sportsman at college while studying he played as an amateur with Crystal Palace
and later for Newcastle United
. He returned to Harrogate and became a schoolteacher at Starbeck School and a member of the National Union of Teachers
, and to supplement his salary in 1912 he signed professional forms with Bradford (Park Avenue)
. He was married to Rhoda Bell.
broke out, he became the first professional footballer to enlist into the British Army
– joining the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1915. He was rapidly promoted to Lance Corporal and then was commissioned into the 9th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own) in 1915. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 5 July 1916 at Horseshoe Trench, Somme
, France
. He was killed in action on 10 July 1916.
He is buried at Gordon Dump Cemetery, France
at the following location: 4m NE of Albert. Plot IV. Row A. Grave 8. Headstone. His Victoria Cross was formerly displayed at the Green Howards Museum in Richmond, Yorkshire
. On 25 November 2010 it was auctioned by London medal specialists, Spink
. It was purchased for a reported £252,000 by the Professional Footballers' Association
and will go on display at their museum in Manchester.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(3 December 1890 – 10 July 1916) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
school teacher and professional footballer. During the First World War he was awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for actions in the Somme.
Football
Bell was born on 3 December 1890 to Smith and Annie Bell, who resided in Queen's Rd, Harrogate. He attended Harrogate Grammar SchoolHarrogate Grammar School
Harrogate Grammar School is a specialist Language and Technology College in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It has about 1700 pupils and there are about 400 pupils in the sixth form...
before going to Westminster College. A noted sportsman at college while studying he played as an amateur with Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
and later for Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. He returned to Harrogate and became a schoolteacher at Starbeck School and a member of the National Union of Teachers
National Union of Teachers
The National Union of Teachers is a trade union for school teachers in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is a member of the Trades Union Congress...
, and to supplement his salary in 1912 he signed professional forms with Bradford (Park Avenue)
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
. He was married to Rhoda Bell.
World War I
When World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out, he became the first professional footballer to enlist into the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
– joining the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1915. He was rapidly promoted to Lance Corporal and then was commissioned into the 9th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own) in 1915. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 5 July 1916 at Horseshoe Trench, Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was killed in action on 10 July 1916.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at the following location: 4m NE of Albert. Plot IV. Row A. Grave 8. Headstone. His Victoria Cross was formerly displayed at the Green Howards Museum in Richmond, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. On 25 November 2010 it was auctioned by London medal specialists, Spink
Spink
Spink may refer to:* Chaffinch, a small bird in the finch family* Spink , a fictional species* Spinka * Spink, brand name of an anti-spill device produced by Dreamfarm-People:* Alfred H. Spink, sportswriter...
. It was purchased for a reported £252,000 by the Professional Footballers' Association
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
and will go on display at their museum in Manchester.