Mark Sever Bell

Mark Sever Bell
Born	15 May 1843 Sydney, New South Wales
Died	26 June 1906(1906-06-26) (aged 63) Windlesham, Berkshire
Buried at	All Soul's Churchyard, South Ascot, Berkshire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Royal Engineers
Battles/wars	Bhutan War Third Anglo-Ashanti War
Awards	Victoria Cross Companion of the Order of the Bath

Colonel Mark Sever Bell VC, CB (15 May 1843 – 26 June 1906) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Born in the Australian colony of New South Wales, his family travelled to England when he was an infant.

He was educated at King's College School and King's College London, where he was made a Fellow in 1890.

Bell was 30 years old, and a lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the First Ashanti Expedition when the following deed took place on 4 February 1874 at the Battle of Ordashu, Ashanti (now Ghana) for which he was awarded the VC:

For his distinguished bravery, and zealous, resolute, and self-devoted conduct at the battle of Ordahsu, on the 4th February, 1874, whilst serving under the immediate orders of Colonel Sir John Chetham McLeod, K.C.B., of the 42nd Regiment, who commanded the Advanced Guard. Sir John McLeod was an eye witness of his gallant find distinguished conduct on the occasion, and considers that this Officer's fearless and resolute bearing, being always in the front, urging on and encouraging an unarmed working party of Fantee labourers, who were exposed not only to the fire of the Enemy, but to the wild and irregular fire of the Native Troops in the rear, contributed very materially to the success of the day. By his example, he made these men do what no European party was ever required to do in warfare, namely, to work under fire in the face of the Enemy without a covering party.^[1]

He later achieved the rank of colonel. He died at Windlesham and his is buried at All Soul's Churchyard, South Ascot, Berkshire, England. A headstone marks his grave.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, England.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)

External links

• Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
• Location of grave and VC medal (Berkshire)