Eric Norman Frankland Bell
Eric Norman Frankland Bell was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 20 years old, and a T/Captain in the 9th Bn., The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, British Army, attd. Light Trench Mortar Bty. during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 1 July 1916, at Thiepval, France, when our front line was checked by enfilading machine-gun fire, Captain Bell crept forward and shot the machine-gunner. Later, on no less than three occasions, when our bombing parties were unable to advance, he went forward alone and threw trench mortar bombs among the enemy. When he had no more bombs available, he stood on the parapet, under intense fire, and used a rifle with great coolness and effect on the enemy advancing to counter-attack. Finally, he was killed rallying and reorganising infantry parties which had lost their officers.
Reference
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
- Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War – The Somme (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.