156081 Anthony Newton BELL, MC, 1 Irish Guards

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Army Number: 156081
Rank: Major
Name: A N BELL, MC
Unit: 1 Irish Guards
GSM & Clasp: GSM, Palestine Clasp 1945 - 1948
TNA Reference: WO 100/526

 

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name: BELL, Anthony Newton
DOB: 26th May, 1920
Place of Birth:
Parents:
Engagement:
The Times, 23rd November, 1943:
"FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE: CAPTAIN A.N. BELL and Mrs E.C. Ingham. The engagement is announced between Captain Anthony Newton Bell, Irish Guards, second son of Mr and Mrs Frank Bell, of Stubb House, Winston, Darlington, and Pamela Mary Barrington, widow of Squadron Leader E.C. Ingham, R.A.F., and eldest daughter of Mr G.H. Barrington Chance, of Braydon Hall, Minety, Wiltshire, and the late Mrs Barrington Chance."
Electoral Register:
1953 - 1959, Trevor Street, London, S.W.7.
Anthony N Bell
Penelope M Bell
Photo:

Died: 15th September, 2016


SERVICE
Army/Personal Number: 156081
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Battalion: Irish Guards, 1st Battalion

Field Returns:
W/S Lieutenant Bell A. N. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 19 June 1943
136051 W/S Lieutenant Bell A. N. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 26 June 1943

Orbats:
Lieutenant Bell A. 1Bn, Support Company Mortars Italy
Lieutenant Bell T. 1Bn, Support Company Carriers Italy

Army Casualty List (WO 417):
156081 Lieutenant (Acting) Bell, A N 1943-44 Irish Guards
156081 Lieutenant (Acting) Bell, A N 1943-44 Irish Guards
The Times Casualty List: published 28 Mar 1944: - Wounded W/Lieutenant Bell A. N.


MEDALS
Gallantry Award/Honour: Military Cross
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy

TNA Link: Recommendation for Award for Bell, Anthony Rank: Lieutenant Service No: ... | The National Archives

Citation:
"24th Guards Brigade, 1st British Division, 6 American Corps
P/156081 Lieutenant Antony BELL, 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS

This Officer commanded the Carrier Platoon in all the actions in which the Battalion was involved until he was wounded on February 11.

Throughout the whole of this period, he was as tireless in his activity as he was outstanding for his skill and courage. Apart from fighting, the Carrier Platoon was constantly employed to bring up supplies and ammunition and to evacuate wounded from dangerously exposed places.

This Officer lead all these parties himself, and by his initiative and example ensured that no position was left without supplies and that no wounded man was left untended longer than was humanly possible.

On the night attack January 29 / January 30 Lieutenant BELL went forward on foot with No. 4 Company to their objective, the area CLO 873364. The area was still infested with German snipers and Machine Gun posts which had been by-passed during the night. Lieutenant BELL made his way back together with Major H.L.S. YOUNG across the open country, under close and heavy S.A..A fire, collected his Carrier Platoon and brought them up to clear the area behind No. 4 Company's position. This he did most successfully.

When, owing to the impossibility of getting up supporting arms to ? the two forward company withdrew to a new position, Lieutenant BELL covered them through, and then himself went round to the left flank to No. 3 Company to engage the enemy in area of VALLELU Farm, where fighting a dismounted action they engaged and destroyed enemy snipers and Machine Gun post.

When on February 4th the Battalion took up position in the area of the caves and "Carrier Farm", the Carrier Platoon was ordered to hold "Ration Farm". This was an exposed by dominant position, and the platoon was subjected to constant artillery and Machine Gun fire. Lieutenant BELL held this position for a week, during the whole of which time he acted as Artillery Forward Observation Officer. He installed himself in an upper room of the farm house and there totally disregarding the enemy fire, calmly directed our guns on to any enemy formations. The house was hit several times and was an obvious target, but since it was the only vantage point in the whole area, Lieutenant BELL, with great devotion to duty and total disregard for the inevitable consequences to himself, continued to man this post personally and by his accurate observation and skilful direction broke up at least two attempts of the enemy to advance down the axis of the main road.

On the morning of February 11th an 88 m.m. shell coming through the window, exploded in the room, killing two Americans who were there and wounding Lieutenant BELL seriously.

This Officer inspired the greatest devotion and enthusiasm among the men under his command. HIs great personal gallantry, remarkable example of devotion to duty and outstanding initiative, merit in my opinion, the award of the Military Cross.

Signed C.A. Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS"

Recommendation:

Campaign Medals:

Medal Roll Details:
BELL, MC A N Major 156081 1st Bn. Irish Guards Palestine Clasp 1945 - 1948 WO 100/526
BELL, MC A N Temporary Major 156081 1st Bn. Irish Guards Palestine Clasp 1945 - 1948 WO 100/526


REFERENCES
War Diaries: War Diary: 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS, September 1939 - July 1944
Archive Files: WO 417, WO 100/526
Publications: IG History, pgs 289, 290, 322, 323
Accounts:
War Memorial:
Newspaper:
Websites:
Irish Guards: Gallantry Awards & Honours - WWII Open Resource Group

 

One for Di:

Www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/10/09/major-tony-bell--obituary/

 

Great post D

 

Thanks both

 

From IG Journal, 1969

Officers, 3rd Battalion, Hoffnungstal, 1946.

Back Row: Lieut. C.J. Atkins, Capt. W.E. Crowder, Capt. F.S. Collin, Lieut. R.D.C. Bacon, Lieut. C.R. Robertson

Centre Row: Capt. C.W.D. Harvey-Kelly, Capt. R.B.H. Ingleby, Lieut. A.L. Samuelson, Capt. D.E.J. Radcliffe, Lieut. W. Moore, MC

Front Row: Lieut. J.E. Russi, Capt. A.N. Bell MC, Major A.P. Dodd, Capt. K.G. Darrell-Rew, Lieutenant Colonel D.H. FitzGerald DSO, Major B.O.P. Eugster DSO, MC

Sitting: Lieut. E.D.D. Ryder, Lieut. P.N.H. Fawcett, Capt. J.E.C. Lewis-Crosby, Lieut. P.H. Filmer-Sankey, Lieut. J.A. Aylmer, Capt. Lord Plunket, Capt. (QM) R. Hastings, Lieut. R.H.S. O’Grady MC

 

Personal Number: 156081
Rank: Captain
Name: Anthony Newton BELL
Unit: Irish Guards

London Gazette : 19 November 1940
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34995/supplement/6621/data.pdf
The undermentioned Cadets, from 161st, 162nd, 164th, 16sth and 167th Officer Cadet Training Units, to be 2nd Lts. 2nd Nov. 1940:—
FOOT GUARDS.
I. G'ds
Anthony Newton BELL (156081).

London Gazette: 21 December 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36850/supplement/5851/data.pdf
War Office, 21st December,. 1944.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy: —
The Military Cross.
Lieutenant Anthony Newton Bell (156081), Irish Guards (Darlington).

London Gazette : 16 August 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37688/supplement/4109/data.pdf
REGULAR ARMY.
FOOT GUARDS.
I. G'ds.
2nd Lt. {War Subs. Capt.) Anthony Newton BELL, M.C. (156081) from Emerg. Commn. to be Lt., 17th Aug. 1946, with seniority, 26th Dec. 1942.

London Gazette : 7 September 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37714/supplement/4461/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
Gren. Gds.
The undermentioned and Lts. (War Subs. Lts.), from.Emerg. Gorninns., to be Lts., 7th Sept. 1946, with seniority as shown:—
I. Gds.
2nd Lt. (War Subs. Lt.) Anthony Newton BELL, M.C. (156081), from Emerg. Commn., to be Lt., 17th Aug. 1946, with seniority 26th Nov. 1942. (Substituted for the notifn. in Gazette .((Supplement) dated 16th Aug. 1946.)

London Gazette : 17 June 1947
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37986/supplement/2712/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
I. G'ds.
Lt. (War Subs. Capt.) A. N. BELL, M.C. (156081), to be Capt., 26th May 1947.

London Gazette : 13 January 1953
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39750/supplement/280/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
I.G.
Capt. A. N. BELL, M.C. (156081), retires receiving a gratuity, 16th Dec. 1952, and is granted the hon. rank of Maj.

 

The Guards Magazine

Major Tony Bell MC
Late Irish Guards

​

Major Tony Bell, who has died aged 96, was awarded an MC in Italy in 1944 during fierce fighting in the Anzio beachhead.
On 4th February 1944 Tony was serving with 1st Battalion Irish Guards and in command of the carrier platoon. He was ordered to hold a farmhouse which was in a very exposed position and his platoon came under constant machine gun and artillery fire.

He held this position for a week and throughout this period he acted as the forward observation officer for the artillery. He installed himself and his wireless set in an upper room in the house and, calmly disregarding the incoming fire, directed the Allied guns on to the enemy formations.

The house was the only vantage point and an obvious target. It was hit several times, but despite the almost inevitable consequences, he continued to man this post and broke up several German attempts to advance down the main road.

On the morning of 11th February, an 88-mm shell came through the window and exploded in the room. It took the roof off, killed two American observation officers who were there and seriously wounded Tony. The citation for the award to him of an MC paid tribute to his gallantry. ‘This officer’, it stated, ‘inspired the greatest devotion among the men under his command’.

Always known as Tony, in 1940 he was commissioned into the Irish Guards and joined the 1st Battalion in North Africa in 1943 at the end of the campaign. He landed on the Anzio beachhead in January 1944. Apart from fighting, his carrier platoon was constantly involved in bringing up ammunition and supplies and in evacuating the wounded from dangerously exposed places. During a night attack on 29th January, he went forward on foot with a company of 1 IG. It was subsequently discovered that the area was still infested with snipers and machine gun posts that had been by-passed in the dark. He therefore went back across open country under intense fire to collect his platoon, and they engaged the snipers and Spandau posts and cleared the whole area of enemy.

After he was wounded, he was given the last rites by a priest at the forward dressing station. He was transferred to a hospital in Naples and, after being repatriated, he was moved to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Following a spell as an instructor at Sandhurst and a return to regimental duty in Germany, he served in Palestine from 1947 to 1948. He commanded the guard of honour for the visit of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Royal Tournament at Olympia and for the visit of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands to Buckingham Palace.

In 1950, Bell commanded the troops in the Tower of London and, in 1952, after commanding a company of Irish Guards at Caterham, Surrey, he resigned from the Army. He worked at Lloyds of London until 1985.

Settled in London, he enjoyed fishing and shooting. Aged 92, he caught his last salmon and, despite having two metal knee replacements, he played tennis until he was well into his eighties.

Tony was admitted to hospital in November 2015. The consultants were astonished that he had survived for more than 70 years, despite the fact that shrapnel had lodged near his lungs and in many places in his body.

Tony Bell married first, in 1951, Penelope Mary Sandberg; the marriage was dissolved. He married secondly, in 1968, Irina Kasterine, who predeceased him, and he is survived by a son from his first marriage and two daughters from his second. He died on 15th September 2016.