Edward Bell (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Edward Inkerman Jordan Bell MC
(1886 – 24 March 1918) was a British professional footballer who played for Southampton
and Portsmouth
in the early 20th century. He later was a soldier who was twice awarded for gallantry in the First World War but died in the Battle of the Somme in March 1918.
, the son of Maj. E. I. Bell (Royal Fusiliers), and Minnie Bell and given the middle name "Inkerman
", presumably a reference to his father's military service. His father was later stationed at Aldershot
and Bell played his early football for South Farnborough.
After a short period with Crystal Palace
as an amateur in February 1907, when he made a small number of appearances in the reserve team in the London and Western League, and a trial with Portsmouth
, Bell was signed by Southampton
of the Southern League
in March 1907. He went straight into the team, making two appearances at outside-right in April as a replacement for Victor Norbury
; both matches, against Queens Park Rangers
and Fulham
, ended in 3–0 defeats. Bell made two more appearances in the 1907–08 season, as a replacement for John Bainbridge
and was released at the end of the season.
After three years back at South Farnborough, Bell was signed by Portsmouth
in February 1911, making four Southern League appearances at the end of the 1911–12 season.
(the "Footballers' Battalion"), achieving the rank of captain
. In October 1916, he was awarded the Military Cross
for gallantry during operations: the citation stated:
In 1918, he received a "bar" to his Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. The citation read:
He was killed on 24 March 1918 in the Battle of the Somme and buried at the Albert
Communal Cemetery. He left a widow, Edith Anne Bell.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1886 – 24 March 1918) was a British professional footballer who played for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in the early 20th century. He later was a soldier who was twice awarded for gallantry in the First World War but died in the Battle of the Somme in March 1918.
Football career
Bell was born in GibraltarGibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, the son of Maj. E. I. Bell (Royal Fusiliers), and Minnie Bell and given the middle name "Inkerman
Inkerman
Inkerman is a town in Crimea, Ukraine. It is situated 5 kilometres east of Sevastopol, at the mouth of the Chernaya River that flows into Sevastopol Inlet . Administratively, Inkerman is subordinate to the municipality of Sevastopol which does not constitute part of the Autonomous Republic of...
", presumably a reference to his father's military service. His father was later stationed at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
and Bell played his early football for South Farnborough.
After a short period 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...
as an amateur in February 1907, when he made a small number of appearances in the reserve team in the London and Western League, and a trial with Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, Bell was signed by Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
in March 1907. He went straight into the team, making two appearances at outside-right in April as a replacement for Victor Norbury
Victor Norbury
Duncan Victor Norbury was an English all-round sportsman, who played football for Southampton and cricket for Hampshire and Lancashire.-Cricket career:...
; both matches, against Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
and Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, ended in 3–0 defeats. Bell made two more appearances in the 1907–08 season, as a replacement for John Bainbridge
John Bainbridge (footballer)
John Robert Bainbridge was a professional footballer who played as a forward for three Southern League clubs between 1903 and 1910....
and was released at the end of the season.
After three years back at South Farnborough, Bell was signed by Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in February 1911, making four Southern League appearances at the end of the 1911–12 season.
Military career
During the First World War, he joined the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex RegimentMiddlesex Regiment
The Middlesex Regiment was a regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th and 77th Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.On 31 December 1966 The Middlesex Regiment was amalgamated with three...
(the "Footballers' Battalion"), achieving the rank of captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
. In October 1916, he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for gallantry during operations: the citation stated:
Finding himself in command of the battalion he repelled a counter-attack with great determination. On another occasion he rescued several men from a blown-in dugout.
In 1918, he received a "bar" to his Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. The citation read:
While holding a section of the front line he located and supervised the formation of forward dumps of ammunition and material. He carried out the work in daylight close to the enemy, and often under very heavy shell and machine-gun fire.
He was killed on 24 March 1918 in the Battle of the Somme and buried at the Albert
Albert, Somme
Albert is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.It is located about halfway between Amiens and Bapaume.-History:Albert was founded as a Roman outpost called Encre, in about 54 BC...
Communal Cemetery. He left a widow, Edith Anne Bell.