John Renison Bell OBE (1889 - 1973)

Born 25 May 1889 in Scottsdale, Tasmania (Australia)

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Teston Luis (Fernandes) Bell — married 9 Mar 1923 in Brighton, Victoria, Australia

Died 22 Aug 1973 at age 84 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Biography

Air Commodore John Renison Bell OBE was born on 25th May 1889 in Scottsdale, Tasmania (Australia). He was the third son of George Bell, a mining agent, and his wife Phoebe Cox. ^[1] He was educated at the Friends' High School, Hobart. He gained employment as a clerk and accountant in solicitors' offices at Devonport and Launceston. ^[2]

John Bell OBE is an Anzac who served in World War One.

On 8th January 1915 John enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). ^[3] After training as a signaller, he embarked for Egypt on 2nd February at Adelaide aboard HMAT Clan McGillivray A46 with reinforcements for the 12th Infantry Battalion. ^[4] Because he gave first-aid to fellow soldiers aboard the troopship, he gained the nickname 'Doc'. Having seen action at Gallipoli soon after the first landings, John was evacuated to England on 20th August with enteric fever. He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) in April 1917. Commissioned as an observer (Lieutenant) in June, he proceeded to France two months later with No.3 Squadron, AFC (No.69 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps). On 6th December, while artillery-ranging over Messines Ridge, Belgium, he shot down a German reconnaissance aircraft. In January 1918 he went to England and qualified as a pilot, rejoining his squadron in September. He returned to Australia 17th March 1919, following which his appointment to the AIF terminated in Hobart in July 1919. ^[3] He soon after was commissioned in the newly-formed Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a pilot. ^[2]

John married fellow Tasmanian Mary Fernandes on 9th March 1923 in St Andrew's Church of England (Anglican Church), Brighton, Victoria. ^[5] They had a daughter, Joan, in March 1926 in Whitchurch, Hampshire, whilst John was attending a flying school in England. ^[6][7]

John Bell OBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Royal Australian Air Force 1922-29, 1939-45
attained the rank of Air Commodore

John resigned his RAAF commission on 8th September 1929 to join the Shell Company of Australia Ltd; becoming its chief aviation officer in New South Wales. In 1939 he was appointed Queensland manager Airlines of Australia Ltd (founded in 1931 as New England Airlines and absorbed by Australian National Airways (ANA) in 1942) – Airlines of Australia had become infamous in February-March 1937 when two of its Stinson Model A tri-motor monoplanes crashed; VH-UHH Brisbane in the McPherson Ranges south of Brisbane and VH-UGG Lismore at Archerfield aerodrome. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, John was recalled to fulltime service with the RAAF, promoted to Wing Commander, and appointed to the Directorate of Organisation at RAAF Headquarters, Melbourne. In 1940 he became supervisor of his wife's effort to establish a women's auxiliary force. ^[8] He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1943. ^[9] He finally retired from the RAAF on 15th October 1945 as acting Air Commodore. ^[8]

John was a farmer

After leaving the military, the Bells took up farming, first in Victoria and then back in Tasmania. They retired to Hobart in 1968. ^[2]

John passed away, aged 84 years, on 22nd August 1973 in Hobart and is buried in Mersey Vale Memorial Park, Spreyton. ^[2] He was survived by both his wife and daughter.

Sources

1. ↑ Tasmania Birth Index #1077039/1889; registered at Ringarooma
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Thomson, Joyce. 'Bell, John Renison (1889–1973)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1993; accessed online 22 Feb 2020
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Australian War Memorial nominal roll: Lieutenant John Renison Bell; accessed 22 Feb 2020
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial embarkation roll: 1586 Private John Renison Bell; accessed 18 Dec 2023
5. ↑ Wikipedia: Mary Bell; accessed 22 Feb 2020
6. ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848 - 1957) Sat 20 Mar 1926 Page 13 Family Notices; accessed 22 Feb 2020
7. ↑ UK FreeBMD Birth Index Jun qtr 1926, vol 2c, page 394
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: 250047 Air Commodore John Renison Bell; accessed 22 Feb 2020
9. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: 250047 Air Commodore John Renison Bell; accessed 22 Feb 2020