Search for soldier’s family

There is still time to back a campaign to track down the family of a Paisley man enlisted and killed in World War One.

David Bell was an engine cleaner and met his end on the French battlefields.

He was one of 93 Scottish Horse soldiers killed in action in either October or November 1918.

David has no grave, but is mentioned on a memorial.

He died at the age of 36 on October 7.

Dunkeld Community Archive is trying find out more about him.

The archive’s manager Ruth Brown said: “The archive checked their names on the War Graves Commission database and discovered that one of the soldiers, 2nd Lieutenant David Bell, was only mentioned on a Memorial in Vis-en-Artois, France, and had no actual grave.”

The Compassionate Centre Commemorations Team carried out their own research, cross referencing with exhumation and reburial papers from 1919.

They then confirmed that the soldier lying in Grave Ref.III.D.5 in Prospect Hill Cemetery near Gouy, France, was 2nd Lieutenant David Bell.

Funding through the Basil D’Eath Trust enabled two representatives from Dunkeld Archive to attend the re-dedication ceremony in France last month.

Ruth added: “It was an extremely moving experience, and one I am proud to have been part of.

“It’s always a very great joy to us when a soldier’s name is returned to him and we’re able to recognise and rededicate his grave in the presence of his military family.”

David Bell’s father George Bell died in a mining accident in 1893 age 32. He was originally from County Antrim and his mother was Agnes Bell(nee Armour).

They lived at 4 Wellpark Road, Saltcoats, where David attended the Ardrossan Public School.

After his father’s death they moved to 13 New Stock Street, Paisley, where David was an engine cleaner.

At the time of his enlistment in 1914 they were living at 9 Neilston Road, Paisley. He married Elizabeth McRae Lang Bell in 1917 and her address was 1a Sherwood Buildings, Paisley. David had one brother, Robert, who died in 1919.

He had five sisters, Mary, Agnes, Jane, Elizabeth and Ellen.

If you have any information email Ruth Brown at archives@historic dunkeld.org.uk.