GROUP DIRECTOR OF HOME GUARD

Southland Times, Issue 24533, 6 September 1941, Page 6

GROUP DIRECTOR OF HOME GUARD

Lieut.-Colonel Bell’s Career Lieutenant-Colonel W. Bell, who has just been appointed group director of the Home Guard for Area No. 12 (Invercargill) and promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, served throughout the last war with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. LieutenantColonel Bell, who was born at Whithorn, Wigtonshire, Scotland, came out to New Zealand about 30 years ago and was engaged in farming when the Great War broke out. He enlisted on August 10, 1914, with the Otago Mounted Rifles and sailed with the Main Body. He saw service in Egypt, on Gallipoli and in France. Before leaving New Zealand he attained the rank of corporal and was promoted to sergeant after the arrival of the Expeditionary Force in Egypt. While serving in France he was recommended for a commission and took a course at an officers’ training school at Netherhaven, Wiltshire. He returned to his unit with the rank of second lieutenant and continued to serve in

France until he was severely wounded in the Ypres sector during the big and final push which the Germans made in March 1918. He was four months in hospital in France and was then sent to the New Zealand hospital at Walton-on-Thames near London, where he spent 18 months. After his return to New Zealand in January 1920 he was placed on the retired list with the rank of captain. He took up farming at Woodlands.

Lieutenant-Colonel Bell has always been keenly interested in education. He was for 12 years chairman of the Woodlands School Committee, he has served for nine years on the Southland Education Board and was recently appointed chairman of the Southland High School Board of Governors, of which body he has been a member for six years. He also served for a period on the High School Board at Gore. He is a member of the executive of the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association.

ORGANIZATION OF HOME GUARD When the Home Guard movement was started in New Zealand Lieuten-ant-Colonel Bell was appointed commander for the No. 12 area. He immediately threw himself enthusiastically into the task of organizing the Guard in his area and in less than three months had enrolled 4000 men and formed 40 separate units. This involved a great deal of travelling both by day and night and all the work was, and is still, done without any remuneration. Lieutenant-Colonel Bell’s chief recreation is bowls and in this game he has attained more than ordinary distinction. He was in the team which represented Southland against Otago in 1924, and he has also represented Southland returned soldiers in their matches with Otago returned soldiers.