First World War Medals – Private William Bell MM, 5th Cameron Highlanders, late 4th Bn. – Military Medal Oct 1918
Military Medal – 200618 PTE. W. BELL. 5/CAM’N HIGHRS
British War Medal – 200618 PTE. W. BELL. CAMERONS.
William Bell MM was born in 1898 at Inverness, and grew up in the rural district around Resaurie, near Culloden, Inverness-shire.
In the 1901 Census he appears aged 3, living at the farm house at Resaurie with his grandparents John Anderson (62) and Ann Anderson (60) along with several other members of the Anderson family. Also in the household was his younger sister Ann A. Bell, indicating that the children were being brought up within their grandparents’ household in the Culloden district.
Upon reaching military age during the First World War, Bell enlisted in April 1915, shortly after turning 18 years old, joining the 4th Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders with the regimental number 3123. The 4th Camerons were a Territorial Force battalion, heavily recruited from Inverness and the surrounding Highland districts.
Following the later reorganisation and disbandment of the 4th Battalion, Bell was transferred to the 5th Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, receiving the new service number 200618. The battalion served on the Western Front, and Bell landed in France on 20 June 1917.
During 1918, the 5th Camerons took part in the final Allied offensives which steadily drove the German Army back across Flanders. The battalion was heavily engaged during the fighting around Passchendaele Ridge and in the subsequent advance across Belgium. On 28 September 1918, the Camerons participated in the successful assault which finally secured the Passchendaele Ridge after the terrible fighting of the previous year. Over the following weeks the battalion continued the advance eastwards, engaging in repeated actions and patrol clashes with the retreating enemy while pushing forward towards the River Lys and the Scheldt, covering a remarkable advance of over twenty-six miles of former German-held ground during the final phase of the campaign.
For his conduct during these operations, Private William Bell was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. His award was published in the London Gazette (Issue 31338) on 13 May 1919, which lists:
“200618 Pte. Bell, W., 5th Bn. (Culloden).”
The Military Medal was awarded to non-commissioned officers and other ranks for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire, marking Bell as one of the decorated soldiers of the Cameron Highlanders during the final victorious months of the war.
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AJMS Medals