Lookup Request - Leonard Charles BELL

[q98]

On behalf of an elderly lady, would SKS attempt to locate, in a Passenger List, Leonard Charles BELL who took passage in 1923 to Melbourne possibly from India where he served in the Indian Army with the rank of Captain.  He would have been approximately 32 years old IF his DOB below is correct.  It is believed he was awarded the Military Cross but this may have occured during the Second World War.
The following was located on creased and yellowed hand-written notes;
Born: 28/12/1891, Durham, England (no indication if Durham is the town or county of birth)
I have searched at length for his arrival in Melbourne without success. Perhaps I am missing something?
Further, it is believed his mother (forename unknown) was resident at Flat 5, Bishops Court, Roslyn Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney in 1926.

Thank you.

Q98
Fremantle

[~MERLIN~]

Leonard Charles BELL 36yrs departed London, 12 April 1923 arrived Melbourne, 2 June 1923 onboard the Balranald.

[q98]

You're a Wizard Merlin! 

Thank you.

Q98

[rusted]

There are 2 Leonard Charles Bells on the electoral rolls, one in Mildura Victoria, a clerk.
The other a farm labourer at quite a few places within a few hundred Kms of Sydney.

And a mention in the Dec 1928 NSW Police Gazette as a missing person.

[q98]

Thank you rusted.  One never knows.
It is believed he was in Sydney during 1926 and a Store Manager in New Guinea (Papua?), travelling regularly to Melbourne on business associated with New Guinea. It is possible he had business dealings with a Captain R B Playford DSO, Leslie Manor, Camperdown, Victoria who also served in the Indian Army during the same period as BELL.

Q98
Fremantle

[tullox]

Hi

There is a mention in Newcastle Morning Herald 30 July 1954 of a Leonard Charles Bell of Lorna Street Waratah receiving a fine for driving negligently. you can fin this through the Trove Newspapers. Don't know if this is your man or not.

Cheers
Sue

[Dundee]

Leonard Charles BELL 36yrs departed London, 12 April 1923 arrived Melbourne, 2 June 1923 onboard the Balranald.

His occupation on the outbound manifest is "Accountant" and address in the UK was 33 Euston Road, NW.

Debra 

[q98]

Thank you both tullox and Dundee; every contribution gratefully received.

It should be relatively easy to locate a man (BELL) who was awarded the Military Cross (4th highest Award for courage) and retired in 1943, at the rank of Brigadier. Not so! I have located more on the man PLAYFORD and am now in touch with his distant relatives hoping for a letter from BELL , a photo of both together, etc.

Q98
Fremantle
W.A.

[Dundee]

Hi Q98,

Do you know if Leonard had family in Canada?  Did he marry?  Where and when?

The only birth which looks likely for Leonard is this one in Essex (a December 28 birth would have been registered in the first quarter 1892)

Jan-March Quarter 1892

BELL,    Leonard Charles
Registration District: Epping, Essex
Volume 4a   Page 367

His parents were Richard Thomas BELL and Mary Jane McI. MARSHALL.  I have found quite a lot about them but it doesn't fit your details.  His widowed mother immigrated to Canada in 1913 with most of her unmarried children and died in Toronto in 1935.  Leonard's bother Cecil enlisted in Canada, but Leonard didn't.

This Leonard WAS an Army Officer and travelled back and forth from the UK to Canada.

I will list his siblings' names in case they are familiar to your friend:

William Henry
Richard Thomas
Robert Allen
Florence Cradock
Agnes Effie
Cecil Greville
Leonard Charles
Gertrude Mary
Marjorie Outred
Doris Margaret

Leonard's death:

Name: Leonard Charles BELL
Birth Date:    28 Dec 1891
Death Registered: Dec Qtr 1976
Age at Death: 85
Registration district: Hastings, East Sussex
Volume: 18
Page: 1078

I believe this is his medal card and as well as being awarded the Military Cross, one of the addresses on the card matches that of the manifest when he travelled back from Canada in 1920.  The cards are digitised on Ancestry or can be purchased via this link:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D1273918

"Awarded the Military Cross"
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/13186/page/37
(go forward to page 37, towards the bottom of the first column)

Put his name in the search box for more mentions
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/

Debra