OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3158, 9 August 1917, Page 5

OBITUARY

CAPTAIN W. H. D. BELL

KILLED IN ACTION

Sincere regret was expressed on all hands yesterday on it becoming known that Sir Francis Bell, Leader of tbo Government in tho Legislative Council, luid been advised by cablegram of the death in action of his son, Captain WilHani Henry Dillon Bell. Th.o lab Captain Bell, who was serving with the Imperial Forces when ho met his death, was well known in Wellington, having represented Wellington Suburbs in Par-liament-for a term after the election of 1911. Interest ran high in that election, and young Mr. Boll's chances were bejioved in some quarters to be jeopardised by his youth, but he camo through ■with flying colours, and won the seat handsomely. At tho second ballot Mr. •Bell polled 3060 votes and Mr. Moore 2661. In -Parliament lio was regarded as one having tho qualities that made for statesmanship, besides which ho> had a winning .personality which earned, him friends wherever he wont. Tho late Captain Bell was born in •Wellington, and tho Wellington College was tho soured of his earlier education. Later ho wont to England graduated at Cambridge University, and in due course was admitted a barrister of tho Inner Temple. In 1910 he came back- to Wellington and joined the legal firm of Bell, Gully, Bell, and Myers, and practised his profession until the call came in August, 1911. Hβ was one of the first ■to answer to the call for volunteers, and went away with the Expeditionary Force which occupied Samoa. As there was no prospect of any fighting in Samoa, ho returned to New Zealand, and after only a tw.o days' sojourn went on to England to rejoin the King Edward Howe, in which regiment he had held a commission before coming out to New Zealand. Ho saw two years of active service, and/ acquitted himself like an Englishman As a mark of respect the flags of the various shipping, conimorcial, consular, and Government offices were flown at half-mast yesterday.

SINCERE TRIBUTES IN PARLIAMENT A MAN OF GREAT PROMISE. .- In the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon the Hon. 0. Samuel moved :- "That this Council place on record its high sense of the faithful service rendered to New Zealand by the late Captain William Henry Dillon Hell, killed in action in France, a former member ot the House of Representatives, and eldest son of Sir Francis Bell, Leader oi the Council; and respectfully tenders to tho parents and relatives an assurance ot sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement." . Mr. Samuel, who said that Captain Bell had been the eldest surviving son ot Sir Francis Bell, Leader of the Council, briefly traced' the late officer's career. Captain Bell had seen much service, and had been mentioned in dispatches in January, 1917. 'iVo younger sons of Sir Francis Bell were at present in France. Captain Bell had l>een a young man of very great promise. He had devoted himself with much earnestness and with great ability to the work of a member of the House of Representatives. He had begun to make his mark in Parliament as well as in his profession. "When the call to service came he responded at once, and ho died nobly in the performance of high duty. Tho expression of the Council's sympathy was not a mere formality. Tho Councillors felt that they shared in a great sorrow. Tho Hon. R. Moore seconded the motion. He said that the death of Captain Bell and the irrevocable loss sustained by the Leader of the Council brought the war very close 1o the members of tho Council. The ?oldier whose death was being mourned had been a young man of great promise, a worthy successor to his father and his grandfather, both men of mark in the public life of New Zealand. His loss would ba felt by the whole Dominion. The-motion was carried.

Tho'ltight Hot. W. I'. Massey (Prime Minister) submitted the same motion in the House of Representatives. Hβ was quite sure, ho said, that the svmpathy of every member .of the House would go out to the bereaved parents and relatives, and especially to Sir Francis and Lady.Bell. They would have th.e satisfaction of knowing that their son. was one of a very largo number v of New Zealnnders whoso self-sacrifice and patriotism woul dliye for ever. He could say that Sir Francis and Lady Bell would rather have their eon dio for his country and his bones lie-in foreign soil, than that he should have failed in his duty in this hour of the nation's peril. Sir Joseph Ward, supporting the motiou, said he was euro that the sympathy not only of the House but of the whole country would go out to Sir Francis and Lady Bell. It was extremely 53d that a-young man should be ,cut oft at tho early age of 35 years. In the House Captain Bell would ba remembered as a young man of great ability, a man with an analytical mind, and a capacity for logical reasoning, a man whose speeches always commanded the closest attention. Although tho death was noble, sustained in a fight for a noble oause, the grief of tho parents, Sir Francis and Lady Bell. must, still be poignant. An occasion like this served to show how great was tho sorrow that was being; hidden k> bravely )>y many people in this country. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt) paid his tribute to a fellow-member of the. House and a fellow-member of the .legal profession. With many another brave soldier Captain Bell had "gone West," .having done his duty. Ho was sure that while Sir Francis Bell and Lady Bell would . mourn the loss of their son they would not grudge him. Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence) wid that members of the House might have some mournful satisfaction in knowing that Captain Bell had been killed instantaneously. Sir Francis .Bell wonld grieve the loss of his son very deeply. He (Sir James Allen) considered Ihat the death of Captain Bell was a great loss to tho Parliament of New Zealand. Indeed, the ljjss of these young men who would ere lonj; have taken a leading part in tho public life of this country, made a very sad story. He joined with other members in extending sympathy to Sir Francis and Lady 8011. Mr. E. A, Wright (Wellington Suburbs) ■paid thai as the member for tho scat ivliicli tho late Captain Bell represenled with such distinction, honourable members would boar with him for a moment. He had found in the district that everywhere the name of Captain Bell was highly respected and honoured. Fivcn (hose who disagreed with him in politics regarded him as one of nature's gentlemen. He was sure that when the news of his death reached the people of Wellington Suburbs they would deeply nionrii his loss. He wished to join iii offering sympathy—and in this he was sure he could speak for the people of Wellington-Suburbs—to Sir Francis and Lady Bell. Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East) said he had known Captain Bell as a • boy at Wellington College,, and had watched his career ever since. Many members of the Bar considered that if he had lived he would have one day become thn lender of the New Zoalanrt Bar At Samoa ho did a great deal of work, codifying thn law in preparation for the occupation of the country by a military force. Afterwards he went, back to "England to join the regiment to lvliirli he had belonged when ho was at Cambridge. At the front l>e was highly appraised by his senior otlirers, and ho (Dr. Newman) bad bren informed in London that if ho had lived he would should have been given moro important work to do Ho was surp that tho people of this town would deeply Tegret the death of a young man who should havo hnil miob a'bright future ahead of him. The Hon. Dr. Pomare said lio wished to.mill his limnhlo tribute to the memory 'or his friend, Captain Bell, and to exfond sympathy to his family. Tho winss of death had pressed hard upon the House. Thero were in the Houso fathers who had suffered tho loss of their wins, but those sons had died as their fathers would wish them to die, facing tho foe. Mr. L. jr. Isitt (Christchurch North) oppressed his sympathy for Sir Francis "id Ladv Bell in their great grief. F.voryhody in tho Houfo had boon im••■•es?P(l when Captain 801 l entered the llonso with his p-cai ability, and also with his chivalrous spirit, and his nice

seiiso of honour. Ho deplored tho loss of so bravo und so gifted nud so honest a man. The motion was agreed to. Tho Prirao Minister informed tho JTouso aleo that news had been received of tho death of tho son of a member of the House—Sergeant E. W. Rhodes, son of Mr. T. W. Rhodes, member for Thames. Mr. Massey said he was sure all members of tho House would sympathise with Mr. Rhodes in his sorrow. Sir Joseph Ward also expressed sympathy with Mr. Rhodes and Mrs. Rhodes in their boreavement. Tho House adjourned at 3.25 p.m. until 7.30 p.m.