Bombardier Joseph Malcom Bell.
700158 Royal Field Artillery B210 (Burnley) Btty.
Died of gas poisoning 8th October 1917, aged 22.
Joseph was born 2nd May 1895 in Ashton-under- Lyne and baptised 7th Oct 1896 the son of Joseph Bell and Hilda Bingham of 31 Brook St. His father’s occupation was Garment Dyer.
In the 1901 census, they were lodging with Hilda’s mother, Hannah Bingham at 118 Brook St., Ashton-under-Lyne. Along with his parents he had two sisters, Nora (8) and Ida (4).
By the time of the 1911 census they had moved to Burnley and lived at 53 Cavour St., with two new additions John (8) and Thomas (4). Joseph occupation was a Cotton Spinner.
From the Burnley Express dated 12th Oct 1917: TERRITORIAL GASSED- Burnley Man's Fate after Three Years.
Official news has been received by the parents at 49 Canning Street Burnley of the death, on October 8th, from gas poisoning, of Bombardier (700158) Joseph Malcolm Bell, of the Burnley Territorial Royal Field Artillery. This is the second Burnley Territorial Artillery man to be fatally gassed, the other being Thomas Liversidge, whose Death we reported last Saturday. Bombardier Bell who was aged 22 years and single had been in the Burnley Territorial Artillery almost 5 years and was drafted out to Egypt on September 9 1914. He served in the Dardanelles and later spent a further long spell in Egypt before being transferred to the Western Front. Last April he had his first and only leave since the war began. He formerly worked at Messr's Greenhalghs' Dyeworks, and attended St. John's R.C. Church, Ivy Street.
Joseph lived at 49 Canning St., Burnley.
Joseph left his effects to his mother, Hilda and Emily Eastwood.
Joseph is buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, France: Grave REF: P.III.D.8A.