Bell, Charles Harold
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Charles Harold |
Surname | Bell |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 08-11-1941 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Bell and Frances Bell (née Black) of Delta, Ontario, Canada. Husband of Mary Etta Bell (née Jones), whom he married at Brockville, Ontario, on 28 January 1941. They lived in Delta, Ontario. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington II |
Serial Number | W5553 |
Markings | LQ-D |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Becklingen War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 11. G. 16. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 129 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/52850 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Village Windmill, Mill Rd, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Remembering 405 (Vancouver) Sqn. PFF at Gransden Lodge 1942 - 1945 |
Location | St. Bartholomew's Church, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, RoH and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the 801 airmen of 405 Sqn. RCAF who gave their lives 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Pillar and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of 102 (Ceylon) and 405 (Vancouver) Sqns. Pocklington Airfield |
Miscellaneous Information
Charles was born on 22 December 1921 at Newboro, Ontario. His father worked as a labourer and was born at Newboro and his mother, deceased, was born in England. He attended Newboro Public school between 1927-1935 followed by Elgin Continuation 1935-1938 (Jnr. Matric). Charles enjoyed several sports including hockey, softball, and skiing and he enjoyed building model aircraft. He worked as a clerk for H.B.Pyne, a general store in Newboro, between June and September 1939. He enlisted on 15 May 1940. |
After enlistment and training Charles was sent to the U.K. where he arrived on 2 March 1941. He went through 11 OTU on 15 March 1941, 19 OTU 9 May 1941 and 405 Squadron 21 October 1941. Very sadly this young man, not yet 20 years old, lost his life the following month on 8 November 1941. |
Casualty Pack Number Find Out More
AIR 81/10165 (P363617/41) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1787/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1787/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 07-11-1941 |
End Date | 08-11-1941 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (87% moon) |
Operation | Berlin- industrial, railway and utility targets hit. Last raid on Berlin for more than a year |
Reason for Loss | Last heard on w/t at 0244 indicating a successful mission |