Kenneth Sydney Bell

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher.

Kenneth Sydney Bell was born on the 10 September 1920 in the Chorlton Registration District, Lancashire, the son of Joe & Elsie Bell (née Wright) who had married by licence in the Parish church of St. Stephen, Chorlton-on-Medlock on the 23rd of February 1920. Joe was working as a plumber and they were both living 5, Callender Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock.

The next time we see them is on the 1921 census, still living at 5, Callender Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, with Elsie’s father John William Wright as the head of the household and his three daughters. Joe was out of work at the time the census was taken.

Sadly, I have no information on Kenneth Sydney Bell, neither his early or teen years but we see the family on the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, living at 77, Victory Road, Irlam, Lancashire. The family had grown and now comprised Joe and Elsie and their children Ronald, Eric and Ernest. There were three redacted records who could have been the other children in the family as an obituary notice for Joe Bell in 1962 names him as being the father of Leslie and Elsie as well. Kenneth was not living in the household on the day the register was taken but this could be because he had joined the Royal Engineers as his casualty card records that he was serving with them on the 1st September 1939.

Kenneth Bell was to meet and eventually marry Lilian May Barcroft in Manchester in the March quarter of 1941. I found a Lilian May Barcroft who is seen on the 1939 National Register, living at 19a Rosamond Street West, Manchester with her mother Ellen Barcroft. Lilian was working as a Rubber Worker.

By 1944, Kenneth had transferred to the Royal Artillery and was serving with 3 Commando. He was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom. 3 Commando landed on Sword Beach were tasked with linking up with the 6th Airborne Division on the eastern flank of Sword. They reached Colville around midday but were reassigned to the defence of Bas de Ranville under 6th Airborne Division where they spent the night. Kenneth Bell was killed in action and lies buried in Hermanville War Cemetery.

Lilian Bell was to remarry in the March quarter of 1946 an Arthur A. Johnson in Manchester.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Kenneth Bell. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Kenneth, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.