Personal Documents regarding Jack Bell

Please note: No reproduction allowed without permission of family

Letter to Family, March 18^th 1917

This letter is very moving as it mentions his feelings for his family and his fears. The location at the top could be Glencarse, on the east coast of Scotland, but it is more likely Glencorse, Edinburgh, where the Royal Scots had their training depot. We presume it was written in 1917 and not earlier, as since he was sent to France in Summer 1917, it is unlikely that he would have been in training since Spring 1916.

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Page Two

Transcript (if you cannot decipher parts of the text)

Postcard to Family, 23^rd May 1917

A postcard from the port of Folkestone, Co. Kent, England, written before he embarked for France. Though short, it gives us a clear idea of how long he was on the Continent.

Front

Back

Telegram from War Office, 1918

The family would have a received a dreaded War Office telegram in 1917 informing them of Jack being missing in action. This telegram, issued in Summer 1918, informed the family that the War Office, having received no further news, had to now consider him dead. Up to this point there was a chance he could be reprted as been taken prisoner. The telegram was accompanied by a standard note of condolence.

War Office message

Crown message

Transcript of Jack’s Letter to his sister Hannah, March 1917

Sunday 18 March I Private J Bell 6 reg 3^rd RS

No 38948 Hut B17 Glencorse

Dear Hannah

Just a line in answer to your

kind and ever welcome letter

and was glad ?? hear you are

in the best of health, as I am

myself, thank God for it. I got

your Shamrock alright. I had

a good St Patrick’s Day. I had a

midnight pass. I enjoyed my

self very well. I hope you had a

good time of it. Dear Hannah,

don’t you think it would be

better for me to drop a letter

to my father. You know I will

be going to France shortly and

I would never rest going out

till I make friends with him,

For you don’t know what may

become of me when I go out there.

God send I may return quite safe.

Tell may I am glad to hear she is

linked. I may be going off my

self shortly. I am very glad to

hear Christy is safe. I would not

rest if I thought he had to go

through what I’ve went through.

I got 3/6 order alright. Tell little

Becky and all the children I was

asking for them. Also my father.

??? Hugh, May, and her father,

especially yourself.

No more to say at present.

From your fond and

loving brother

Jack

Goodbye, write soon