Family recollections of Richard 'Dick' was that he was a big lad 6'ft 8in, and following the outbreak of the first world war he came under pressure by Kendal town folk to join up although he was still only fifteen years of age. He was the son of Richard and Nancy Bell (nee Steele) and at the age of sixteen he left the family home at Gillthwaiterigg Skelsmergh and travelled to Carlise where he lied about his age and enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

He survived and returning home following one tour of duty, his mother Nancy had to boil his uniform to remove the lice infestestion acquired in the trenches. Apparently a 'crack' shot the regiment offered Dick a training post teaching young rifflemen how to shoot, but he turned this down, wanting to return to the front line with his pals.

His battalion depleted, Dicks regiment was merged with the Seaforth Highlanders 7th Battalion. He survived the trenches yet again and on the 20th April 1918 he was being transported away from the front line when the train was bombed whilst passing through Belgium sadly killing him on his 18th birthday. Dick is honoured in Edinburgh castle book of remembrance and there is a memoral in Skelsmergh church yard Kendal  as well as in Kendal town.

'Lest we forget'

from the fronassing through B

Liz Moss