George Bell was born at Lough Erne, Fermanagh on 17 Mar 1794 and educated in Dublin. He was commissioned as an ensign into the 34th Regiment on 11 Mar 1811 and served in the Peninsular War. His first battle was Arroyo de Molinos where he carried a Colour, and was at many more battles including Badajoz, Vittoria, the Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes and Toulouse. After the Napoleonic Wars he went to India in 1825, transferring to the 45th. He then fought in the First Burma War, notably at Ava.
He was promoted to captain in 1828 and by 1836 was in Canada to take part in the suppression of the 1837-38 Rebellion. He greatly distinguished himself while he was in command of the fort at Coteau-du-Lac. The enemy had previously incapacitated the fort’s guns and sunk them in the river. Captain Bell, against the advice of those who said it couldn’t be done, organised the recovery of 16 guns, 24-pounders, and 4,000 round shot, in the middle of the Canadian winter. They were cleaned up, un-spiked and re-mounted. For this he was awarded a brevet majority.
He was appointed to the command of the 1st Battalion, 1st Royal Regiment on 5 Dec 1843. He was with them in Gibraltar, Nova Scotia and the West Indies. He commanded the battalion in the Crimea, at Alma, Inkerman and the siege of Sevastopol in which he was wounded. He was mentioned in Raglan’s despatches and given command of a brigade. His service in the Royal Regiment lasted 30 years.
He reached the upper echelons of army rank but was not given useful employment. He attributed this to his having openly criticised the authorities for their failure to provide adequate care and supplies to the soldiers in the Crimea. In a letter to the Times on 12 Dec 1854 he appealed to the people of Britain to support his call for army reform. George was married, briefly, to Alicia Fitzmonica Scott, on 12 Dec 1816 but she died in Scotland on 1 Feb 1819. General Bell died on 10 July 1877 at 156 Westbourne Terrace, London and is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery.
1811 Commissioned as ensign in 34th Regiment. 11 Mar
1811 Fought in Spain, Portugal and France
1825 Transferred to 45th Regiment
1828 Promoted to Captain
1836 Served in Canada
1839 Awarded rank of Brevet Major. 29 Mar
1843 CO of The Royal Scots. 5 Dec
1855 Created CB. 5 July
1855 Promoted to Major-General.
1863 Appointed Colonel of 104th Regiment. 23 Oct
1867 Elevated to KCB. 13 Mar
1867 Appointed Colonel of 32nd Regiment. 2 Feb
1868 Promoted to Lieutenant-General. 28 Jan
1873 Promoted to General. 8 Mar
1877 Died in London. 10 July
