Philip's Story.
Son of James and Elizabeth Bell, of Rush Green, Lymm. The 1901 census shows Philp age 5, he had an elder brother, Ernest 7, and two younger siblings, Herbert 3, and Charles 7 months. By 1911, Philip 15, was working as an office boy at the salt Works in Lymm. Ernest is not at home when the census was taken. Herbert and Charles were both at school.
Some details about Philip appeared in the Runcorn Examiner, Saturday, May 26, 1917.
Private P. Bell.
In Hospital at Bagdad Severely Wounded.
Mr. and Mrs. James Bell, Rush Green, have received news that their son, Private Philip Bell, of the Cheshire Regiment, has been severely wounded during fighting in Mesopotamia, and is now in hospital at Bagdad.
Private Bell who is 21 years of age, enlisted twelve months ago last February, and went to the front the following September. He was educated at the Oughtrington School and attended the Oughtrington Church. He was formerly employed as a clerk at the Lymm Salt Works. Two other brothers are serving in France, Ernest a farrier and Herbert a cook.