BELL, George Elson

BELL, George Elson – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 425
RANK : Corporal
UNIT : 31st Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 8/07/1915
AGE : 22
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Brisbane, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Warialda, New South Wales
RELIGION : Presbyterian
OCCUPATION : Farmer
DATE OF DEATH : 31/12/1972
PLACE OF BURIAL : Concord, New South Wales

MEMORIALS : Yelarbon War Memorial, Yelarbon Roll of Honour, Goondiwindi War Memorial, Inglewood and Districts Roll of Honor

View Veteran’s Service File : BELL, George Elson

NOTES : George Elson Bell was born at Warialda in New South Wales. On his attestation papers dated 8 July 1915, he named his brother Ernest James Bell of Beebo, Yelarbon, Goondiwindi, Queensland as his next of kin. George was 22 years old when he enlisted.

On 9 November 1915 he embarked aboard HMAT A62 Wandilla bound for overseas service and was appointed Lance Corporal on 20 April 1916. He suffered a gun shot wound to the abdomen at Fromelles on 19 July 1916 and was admitted to the13th General Hospital at Boulogne before being transported by ship to St David Hospital in England, arriving on 24 July 1916.

He rejoined his unit on 6 November 1916 and was promoted to Corporal on 1 January 1917. On 28 August 1918 he was wounded for a second time when he suffered a gun shot wound to the neck.

The Northern Miner newspaper published Casualty List No. 436 where it stated:

WOUNDED

Corp. Geo. Elson Bell, Goondiwindi (second occasion).

Invalided to England to receive treatment and to recover from his wound, George then returned to Australia aboard the Orsova, arriving at Melbourne on 20 February 1919. George was discharged from the Army in Brisbane on 20 April 1919.

On Wednesday 16 November 1921, George married Nita May Moore of Gilgai at St Augustine’s Church in Inverell. His brother Ernest stood as his best man. George presented the bridesmaids with gold brooches, set with pearls and rubies.

After their honeymoon which was spent in Brisbane, the happy couple returned to their future home in Yelarbon. The Toowoomba chronicle reported on Friday 17 March 1922, that George had secured a certificate for deed for, Sands, 639 acres 2 roods 34 perches.

Copyright 2026 Deborah C Wheeler and Duncan McLean, Southern Downs Military History

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