Sidney Bell
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Sidney Bell was born in 1872 and was baptised on 7th April 1872 at St Mary's Radcliffe on Trent he was the son of the late Samuel, a farmer, and Catherine Bell née Parr of The Manvers Arms, Radcliffe on Trent and then Barrow House. Samuel Bell was born in 1824 at Radcliffe he died in 1883 aged 59 yrs Catherine Parr was born in 1830 also at Radcliffe she died in 1896 aged 66 yrs, they were married on 28th December 1884 at St Mary's Radcliffe, they went on to have 8 children. In 1911 Sidney is living at Barrow House, Radcliffe on Trent, he is 39 yrs an auctioneers clerk, he is living with his widowed sister Clara Marshall 55 yrs.
Served in the Boer War 1899-1902. 4 March 1916 Embarked from Wellington New Zealand to Suez, Egypt Served in Egypt 1916 and the western front 1 October 1916 Wounded in France Hospitalised for 3 weeks with trench fever and rheumatism 29 October 1916 Embarked on a hospital ship for England 29 September 1917 Classified unfit by Medical Board 2 November 1917 Returned to New Zealand
Details of inquest from a New Zealand newspaper Returned soldiers death An inquest was held at the residence of Mr HS Chappell Killinchy on Friday afternoon by Mr W G Linn JP, concerning the death of Private Sydney Bell, a returned soldier who died suddenly on Thursday afternoon. The evidence was to the effect that deceased had not been in good health since his return from front a few weeks ago. While on active service he had suffered from trench fever, shellshock and rheumatics. He complained of feeling unwell on Thursday and while sitting in a chair in Mr Chappell’s orchard exclaimed “Lord preserve me from such pain” and immediately collapsed and died. Dr B Volkmann, who conducted a post-mortem examination, stated that he found deceased’s heart very much dilated and enlarged. In his opinion death was due to dilation of the heart. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned. Private Bell was a native of Nottinghamshire England and came out to New Zealand seven years ago taking up his residence at Killinchy where he was engaged in farming pursuits. He was 45 years of age and had served in the South African war. Sidney is honoured in NZ on the Soldiers of Selwyn website at http://keteselwyn.peoplesnetworknz.info/soldiers_of_selwyn/topics/show/19-sidney-bell
