838905 Pte. John Clinton Bell was born on October 5th, 1890, in Simcoe County, Ontario.
Moving to Owen Sound in Grey County he was living in the town working as a clerk when hostilities broke out. John attested to the 147th Battalion on February 25th, 1916 and was assigned to "C" Company.
Billeted locally over the winter the 147th Battalion mobilized in Owen Sound in the spring of 1916 and left for training at Camp Niagara. As the conditions in the Camp were wanting the unit moved to the new training facility of Camp Borden in late June.
In September 1916 the unit received their orders to proceed overseas, but due to an outbreak of diphtheria they were detained in Amherst, Nova Scotia, for over a month. The unit finally sailed for Great Britain on November 14th 1916 on the S.S. Olympic.
On January 1st, 1917, the 147th Battalion ceased to exist when it became the nucleus for the 8th Reserve Battalion, whose task it was to supply reinforcements to the 58th Battalion and the 4th C.M.R. Attaining the rank of Acting Corporal whilst in England, John would revert to Private at his own request to see service at the front.
On October 19th, 1917, John was taken on strength of the 4th C.M.R. in a draft of reinforcements after the Battle of Hill 70. He served with the unit through Passchendaele and the German Spring offensive.
On July 15th, 1918, John was wounded in his left shoulder by shrapnel taking him out of the fight. Upon his recovery he was assigned to the labour pool and was struck off strength from the 4th C.M.R. on March 18th, 1919.
Private John Clinton Bell passed away on June 29rd, 1955, at the age of 64. He lies at rest in Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound, Ontario.
Biography details credit: George Auer