Bell, James William "Sammy"

Date of birth:: August 3rd, 1914 (Montreal/Québec, Canada)
Date of death:: June 30th, 1942 (Noordwolde, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Protestant Cemetery Noordwolde
Plot: G. Row: 1. Grave: 3.
Service number:: 64880
Nationality:: Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

James was born on August 3 1914 in Montreal, the son of James Bell and Mary Hannah Bell nee Beck (both English) of McAdam Junction New Brunswick. He had three sisters.

He was a schoolteacher and member of the Church of England. He spoke and read English well and he could also read French well. His hobbies were languages, artistic and he had coached hockey, basketball and football teams. His sports were football, hockey, basketball, tennis, softball and swimming.

He enlisted on August 13 1940 in Moncton New Brunswick and he went thereafter on June 29 1941 overseas to the UK.

James was killed in action on Tuesday June 30 1942 age 27 due to a crash near Noordwolde 16 km southeast of Heerenveen before or after an attack on Bremen in Germany. The other fallen RCAF crew members were F/Sgt Winston J. Dickinson age 25 in grave in grave G-1-5, Sgt William J. Harrell (USA) age 21 in grave G-1-1 and F/Sgt Paul Oneson age 26 in grave G-1-8. The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were Sgt Walter P. Beare in grave G-1-4 and F/Sgt Reginald T. Adams age 21 in grave G-1-2. The other fallen RAF crew member was Sgt Alexander Simpson age 21 in grave G-1-7 and the other fallen RAAF crew member was P/O H.A. Echinn (served as Chinn) age 22 in grave G-1-6.

He is mentioned with the other fallen crew members on a memorial at the cemetery and also at an information sign near the crash site.

He served with the 405 Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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