Greenside War Memorial, Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
UK Commemorated:
-
Overseas Commemorated:
-
Buried:
Barrie Union Cemetery, Ontario, Canada.
Decoration and Medals:
War Medal.
Photographs:
2
Service Records:
No
Death Notice/Obituary:
Family Details:
Son of Thomas H. and W. Bell of Dean Bank Villas, Ferryhill, Co. Durham. Husband of Doris Bell (nee Hayward) of Darlington, Co. Durham.
A brother, Flight Lieutenant Matthew Bell, lost his life on 14th March 1946, whilst serving with the RAF carrying out air operations over Germany.
Notes :
John's family were well known in the Greenside area where his father had long service as an official at Greenside Colliery. The family moved to the Ferryhill area around 1938.
John was a former 'Old Blaydonian' (educated at Blaydon Grammar School) and former junior officer in the Merchant Navy. In 1936 he enlisted in the RAF and subsequently was posted to Canada to be a Pilot Instructor. Of the seven British Empire air trainees that were killed as a result of the mid-air collision, two were from the North East of England, the other casualty being that of A. E. Rundell, formerly from Newcastle upon Tyne.
Sources Used:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register.
Blaydon Courier.
Newcastle Sunday Sun, 16th March 1941.
