Ian Bell Signalman on HMS Royal Oak

Ian Bell was a signalman on HMS Royal Oak, which was sunk in Scapa Flow on 13th October 1939. Most of the British fleet had been moved out of Scapa Flow, but HMS Royal Oak was left to provide air cover as it had anti-aircraft guns. A German U-boat managed to enter Scapa Flow, and its first torpedo hit the anchor chain of HMS Royal Oak, leading those on the ship to think it was an internal explosion. However, the second torpedo hit the ordnance section mid-ship, and she sank very quickly with the loss of 833 lives. Ian was one of the 467 survivors.

Later in the war, Ian served on HMS Jupiter at the Battle of Java, where the ship hit a mine and sank. He was declared missing or dead.

Ian is remembered on the Southsea Common memorial near his home base of Portsmouth.