Harry Langford Bell MM DCM, 2nd Batt. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
This short post is for a mate at rugby (Paul Donovan) that I've been doing a bit of research for and his great uncle's story whilst with the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers during the Second World War. His name is Harry Langford Bell and he was awarded a MM and DCM for his bravery in 1944 and 1945 respectively whilst in Italy.
For his Military Medal (MM), he was at the Battle of the Garigliano, commanding a section in D company, that was held up by a MG on their right flank on the Gustav Line, near Tufo, after counter attacks by the Germans the day before. He dashed forward, when a burst of of fire hit his rifle, but despite this, kept on, where he killed two of the crew with a grenade and took three prisoners. But for his immediate bravery, his platoon would have lost the benefit of the artillery fire and other German posts that were captured would have been allowed time to come to life and defeat their attack. His award was granted immediately by General Alexander.
That wasn't an end to his bravery, as in April 1945 he was involved in more action and attached is transcripts of comrades who aided his award of a Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), although originally he was recommended for a Victoria Cross (VC). Whilst under heavy mortar and shell fire, he walked about calmly smoking a cigarette, ordering his section what to do, with the rest of them lying down taking cover from the shelling. On two occasions through during this, he was blown off his feet from the blast from nearby misses, but he just dusted himself down, carrying on with his rhetoric, and with his bearing on that day, gave his section and rest of the platoon the greatest encouragement. Shortly afterwards they advanced on, leading his section in an attack on two MGs, where they were silenced by Bell himself, but he was unfortunately wounded severely in the right arm during the attack, with his arm all but severed below the elbow, but undeterred by this, he continued an assault on a house, through heavy automatic fire, inspiring those behind him to quell the enemy, taking six prisoners and securing the position. The platoon reformed to attack another enemy house stronghold including a Self Propelled (SP) gun/M lV tank(?), plus the normal small arms too. So again leading his section, now down to three men and under heavy concentration of fire, he charged across open ground, approximately 400 yards of it, straight for the strongpoint destroying one MG, before a heavy mortar barrage stopped them, himself again getting seriously wounded in his buttock. The commander ordered that the section be evacuated, but he refused point blank to move, assisting the rest to get away safely, whilst laying under sniper and automatic fire for two hours until this was done, even in his ever-deteriorating state. His name now was a byword with the Battalion for his self-sacrifice, superb gallantry, inspiration, courage and coolness under fire, with some 30 prisoners taken and several killed by himself and the rest of the platoon, to accomplish its task that day in breaking out from the bridgehead formed over the Fossa Marina, north-east of Argenta on the Ferrara Rd, to cut off the enemy. Amazingly after his evacuation, he woke up in an ambulance to find that his brother James (Paul's Grandfather) was there, who was in the RAMC to aid him - bet it was nice to see a familiar face. He returned home, but paid for his valour by spending the next two years in hospital recovering, but selflessly again, helping out at ex-servicemen's organisations, plus holding down a Docks storeman job and assisting with the elderly and disabled people later on after his retirement, where he was duly awarded for his service to them. He sadly passed away in August 1994, but what a story to leave behind from the Second World War to his loved ones and the wider world. The family are rightly proud of his achievements during and after the war.
Total respect for his bravery and service during those testing times, all this done in early 20s. Think he earned those medals the hard way and believe at least one should've been of a higher honour. All this is explained in a booklet from the museum about the unit, called Globe Trotters, but also please read through his exploits with the images attached to see the full extent of his daring deeds.
Spread it far and wide.
