Harold George Bell

Harold George Bell

Personal Information
Date of Birth	9 Oct 1914
Place of Birth	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	27 years, 9 months
Description	5'5½" (1.65m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; brown eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Trowel hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	89 Smith street, Highgate Hill, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Lily Violet Bell
Military Information
Reg Number	WX27103 & W48875
Date of Enlistment	4 May 1942
Rank	Bombardier
Unit/Formation	55th Anti Aircraft Regiment's 69th Australian Mobile Searchlight Battery
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia
Medals	War Medal 1939-45 Defence Medal Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Had married Lily Violet Weeks in the Blackwood region on 28 May 1934.

Electoral Roll entry: 1943 at 89 Smith street, North Perth, plasterer

War Service

Originally mobilised in the CMF (Militia) as a General Reinforcement on 27 Jan 1942, but quickly (20 Jul 1942) converted to AIF service. In the meantime on 8 May 1942 he was allocated to the 13th Australian Infantry Training Battalion at Northam to complete his basic training. Ten days later he was posted to the 55th Australian Anti Aircraft Company in Fremantle and on 31 Oct 1942 he was made an Acting Lance Corporal. This was followed by promoting to Acting Corporal on 29 Jan 1943.

On 1 Oct 1943 Harold was posted to the 69th Australian Mobile Searchlight Battery at Fremantle. Between 8 Feb and 2 Mar 1944 Harold attended a school at the 5th Heavy Artillery Training Battery and on 20 Mar 1944 he was detached to the 3 Corps Signals detachment. The same day his rank of Bombardier was confirmed. On 13 Jun 1944 he was posted to the Northern Territory, arriving there via South Australia on 9 Jul 1944, and on 28 Sep 1944 he joined the 55th Australian Composite Anti Aircraft Regiment. On 25 Nov 1944 Harold moved with the unit to New South Wales, and then he returned to the Northern Territory where he rejoined the 69th Australian Mobile Searchlight Battery‏‎ in Batchelor.

The 69th Australian Mobile Searchlight Battery moved to NSW on 25 Nov 1944, and soon after Harold was hospitalised from 22 Jan until 6 Feb 1945 with hemorrhoids at 113th Australian General Hospital Concord. On 19 February he had recovered enough to be posted to the NSW Line of Communication Recruit Reception and General Details Depot for reallocation. On 3 Feb 1945 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Infantry Brigade, and was allocated on 3 Mar 1945 to the 41st/2nd Australian Infantry Battalion. On 23 May 1945 he was transferred to the 16th Australian Infantry Training Battalion, before he was transferred on 26 Sep 1945 to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot where he arrived on 16 Oct 1945. Harold was discharged on 29 Oct 1945.

At the point of discharge Harry was said to have 5 children under 16 years of age.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at 89 Smith street, North Perth, plasterer; 1958 - 1972 at 83 Redfern street, North Perth, painter