Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Lieutenant-Colonel G. H. Bell, 27th Punjabis, late King’s Own Scottish Borderers, who died on service during the Great War

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Gemaizah 1888 (2nd Lieut: G. H. Bell. 2/K.O. Sco: Bord:); India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1901-2 (Captain G. H. Bell 27th Punjabis); Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Somaliland 1902-04, Jidballi (Capt: G. H. Bell. 27/Punjabis); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col. G. H. Bell. 27/Punjabis.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. G. H. Bell.); Khedive’s Star, undated; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued, the first with light pitting from star, otherwise nearly very fine or better (8) £1,400-£1,800

George Henry Bell was born on 11 April 1869, the son of George Coates Bell, a Surgeon Major in the Bombay Medical Department. He was educated at Dulwich College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Upon passing out in August 1888 he took up a commission in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers with whom he saw service during the next two years in the Sudan, being present at the action of Gemaizah (Medal with Clasp and bronze star) and also took part in the operations on the Nile in 1889. In 1890 his unit went to India, and a year later he joined the Indian Army as a Lieutenant, first with the 19th Punjabis before, in 1893, switching to the 38th Dogras. During this period he spent much of his service on the North West Frontier, becoming familiar with the small forts that were common there, as well as with the Punjab in general. Fort Sandeman, Mir Ali Khel, and Jamrud made him familiar with the Zhob, Baluchistan, and the Khyber, and, in 1896, he was permanently appointed to the 27th Punjabis, of which regiment he became Adjutant and was later made Captain in 1899. He went with them to Kila Drosh (Chitral), Peshawur, Bannu, and to Kajuri Kach, Jandola, Zam, Tank, and Dera Ghazi Khan. He saw active service in 1901-2 in the Waziristan Campaign (Medal with Clasp), and again in the following two years, as his regiment was sent to the Somaliland, including the action at Jidballi, in which for a time he served as Field Intelligence Officer (Medal with two Clasps). In 1906 the 27th Punjabis returned to the North West Frontier again as Major on the Staff of the 1st Division, Peshawur, at Cherat and Malakand. Rejoining his regiment at at Multan he was once more on the Waziristan borderland in 1908, at Dera Ismail Khan and Shukh Budin; and after an absence of four years the 27th Punjabis returned there in 1912.

When war broke out he was commanding a detachment at Fort Jandola. In October 1914 he and his regiment were transferred to Europe, albeit along the way they were also involved in repelling an attack on the Suez Canal. Upon reaching France in August 1915 he was second in command of the regiment during the battle of Loos and was subsequently given command of the 69th Punjabis, who had suffered heavy losses in that action. He subsequently took his new regiment east, serving with them as they fought from the Suez across the Arabian Peninsula in outposts of the Aden Hinterland. In February 1916 he was ordered to Mesopotamia to take command of the 9th Bhopals. Almost immediately after reaching the front line trenches his fine constitution broke down and he was invalided to India and died while on sick leave at Srinagar, Kashmir, on 3 September 1916, his wife, Eva, having joined him from England a week earlier.

Sold with pre-Great War ribbon bar and some copied research and photographs.

For the recipient’s pre-war group of miniature medals, see Lot 628.