Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1887 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/713, the
son of John Johnstone & Jessie Martindale (nee Wright).   The middle name
of 'Bell' originated in Dumfriesshire, Scotland from his maternal
Grandmother’s father James Bell.

1891 Census - 7 York Road, Chorlton cum Hardy, Manchester.   Son - aged: 3
- born: Chorlton cum Hardy.   Head of household - John J. Martindale -
Married - aged: 33 - occ: Woollen Merchant - born: Chesterfield,
Derbyshire.   Also - Jessie Martindale - Wife - aged: 26 - born: Sale,
Cheshire.   Plus 1 younger brother and 1 domestic servant.

1901 Census - Derbe Road, St. Anne's on Sea, Lancashire.   Son - aged: 13 -
born: Chorlton cum Hardy.    Head of household - John J. Martindale -
Married - aged: 43 - occ: Woollen Merchant - born: Chesterfield,
Derbyshire.   Also - Jessie Martindale - Wife - aged: 36 - born: Sale,
Cheshire.   Plus 2 younger siblings and 1 domestic servant.

1911 Census - "Lansdowne", Hawthorn Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire.   Son - aged:
23 - occ: Woollen Merchant - born: Chorlton cum Hardy.    Head of household
- John J. Martindale - Married - aged: 53 - occ: Woollen Merchant - born:
Chesterfield, Derbyshire.   Also - Jessie Martindale - Wife - aged: 46 -
born: Sale, Cheshire.   Plus 2 younger siblings and 1 domestic servant.

MIC - States that he was attached to the Loyal North Lancashire Rgt and was
posted to France on the 27th May 1918.

Extracted from De Ruvigny’s Roll of honour - Lieutenant and Adjutant the
Lancashire Fusiliers., attd. 2nd Battalion (81st Foot) the Loyal North
Lancashire Rgt  The son of John Johnstone Martindale, of Lansdowne,
Hawthorn Lane, Wilmslow, a senior partner in the firm of Messrs John Bell &
Co., Woollen Merchants, Manchester, by his wife. Jessie. daughter of Robert
Wright, of Sale; born at Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester on the 20th May
1887.  Educated at Kilgrimal School, St Anne's-on-Sea, and Manchester
University.  He was partner with his father, and prospective Liberal
candidate for the Widnes Division of Lancashire.  On the outbreak of war he
became Joint Organizing Honorary Secretary of the East Lancashire branch of
the British Red Cross Society; obtained a commission, and gazetted 2nd
Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers on the 13th June 1915.   Promoted to
Lieutenant on the 2nd February 1916 and Adjutant on the 20th July 1918.

Served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Egypt from May 1917. 
Attached to the 2nd Battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regt and
proceeded to France with his battalion in May 1918.   He died in the No 63
Casualty Clearing Station, Senlis on the 1st August 1918, following wounds
received in action at Hartennes-et-Taux, south of Soissons on the 29th
July.   A brother officer wrote:  "He was a genius, and had thrown his
heart and soul into the welfare of the battalion.   We all join you in
lamenting his loss; his energy and keenness were an example to the whole
battalion.  From a personal standpoint he was one of the staunchest friends
I ever had.  We have worked and played hand-in-hand for the past year and
seen this battalion become the finest in the British Army.  Had he lived he
would undoubtedly have been rewarded with the Croix de Guerre.  And I
sincerely hope that if the British rewards are forthcoming he will receive
one for his devotion to duty and reconnaissance  of a wood under heavy
tire, and thereby bringing back useful information which assisted us
greatly in our advance."

Grandson of Robert & Alice Wright of Seymour Lodge, Sale.   Commemorated on
the family gravestone in Sale Cemetery - A.160.  He is also commemorated on
St Bartholomew's Church Memorial, Wilmslow and the Wilmslow Town War
Memorial in the park opposite St. Bartholomew's.

M.I. "A Noble Life Sacrificed for his Country".

His brother and sister also shared an interest in the Red Cross.  His
sister (Beryl Kirkwood Bell Martindale) nursed many 1st WW wounded in the
Dover military hospital.