Donald Simpson Bell

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Donald Simpson Bell was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Before the war, he had been a footballer, and had played as an amateur with Crystal Palace and Newcastle United. In 1912 he turned professional and moved to Bradford (Park Avenue). When World War I broke out in 1914, he became the first professional footballer to enlist, initially as a corporal; he received his commission the following year.

He was 25 years old, and a Temporary Second Lieutenant in the 9th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 5 July 1916 at Horseshoe Trench, Somme, France, a very heavy enfilade fire was opened on the attacking company by an enemy gun. Second Lieutenant Bell immediately, on his own initiative, crept up a communication trench, and then, followed by a corporal and a private, rushed across the open under very heavy fire and attacked the machine-gun, shooting the firer and destroying the gun and the personnel with bombs. This officer lost his life five days later, on July 10, 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, performing a very similar act of bravery.

He is buried at Gordon Dump Cemetery, France at the following location: 4m NE of Albert. Plot IV. Row A. Grave 8. Headstone. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Green Howards Museum in Richmond, Yorkshire.