George Bell was born on 6th Apr 1890 in Whitby, Cheshire, son of Edward and Jane Bell.

In the 1901 census, Edward and Jane were living at 5 Lynn Street, St John’s, Swansea with 5 children Jane (15), Edward (13), George (10), Frederick (8), William (6), John (4) and Joseph (1). Edward was working as a Steam Engine Fitter.

In 1911, George was living with another sister (Elizabeth) and her husband at Pentrebedw, nr Morriston. George was working as a ‘Waggoner, - aerated works’.

In the 1939 register, George is living at 43 Nicander Parade, Swansea with his wife Rachel, and a 12 year old girl, Barbara, most likely his daughter. At this time, George was working as a Furniture Salesman.

George died in 1969, aged 79.

George enlisted in the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade on the 25th Apr 1913. Frederick Bell also enlisted on that day (Serv. No. 701) and it is likely that this was his younger brother.

His service record has not survived, but remaining records and some newspaper articles provide an insight into his service.

Being from Moriston, George joined the Brigade Ammunition Column and along with the rest of the Brigade was mobilized at the start of the war.

George went to Northampton with the Brigade and in early Nov 1914 was widely recognized for bravely saving a mother and child from a burning building in the town, this was widely reported over the following weeks;

‘HEROIC SWANSEA GUNNER. SAVES MOTHER AND CHILD FROM FIRE. Gunner G Bell of the 1st Welsh Howitzer Brigade from Swansea performed a heroic act at Northampton, where it is training with the Welsh Division of Territorials, on Sunday evening. Mrs. Agnes Tew, the wife of a reservist, put one of her two children to bed and left a candle burning. The flame must have come into contact with some flammable material, for an alarm of fire was shortly afterwards raised. The mother rushed back into the bedroom to remove the child, but she fell prostrate on the floor, owing to the dense smoke.

Gunner Bell, of Swansea, who is billeted near, came on the scene, and without a moments hesitation, he DASHED INTO THE BURNING ROOM and rescued both mother and the child. The Corporation Fire Brigade was called, and they subdued the flames.

If it had not been for the plucky action of the Swansea Territorial probably both mother and child would have lost their lives or been seriously injured.

George was awarded a Bronze Medal of the Society for the Protection from Life from Fire the following February by the Mayor of Northampton.

All of the articles relating to the incident are in the Image Library.

George did not travel to France with the Brigade and ultimately transferred to the Army Service Corps where he continued to serve in the UK.

His pension records state that he was discharged sick on the 5th Oct 1918, suffering from Anemia.