Rare Boer War Victoria Cross medal group goes on display at Australian War Memorial

The Boer War medal group of Lieutenant Frederick William Bell VC, including one of only six Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians in South Africa and the first awarded to a Western Australian, has gone on display at the Australian War Memorial.

Lieutenant Bell’s VC action occurred on 16 May 1901 at Brakpan in the Transvaal region of South Africa. His citation from 1901 reads:

when retiring through a heavy fire after holding the right flank, Lieutenant Bell noticed a man dismounted and returned and took him up behind him. The horse, not being equal to the weight, fell with them. Lieutenant Bell then remained behind and covered the man’s retirement till he was out of danger.

Bell’s medal group comes to the Memorial on loan from the Western Australian Museum and will be on display here until June 2019.

Director of the Australian War Memorial Dr Brendan Nelson said he was proud that the Hall of Valour was able to represent the courageous actions of Victoria Cross recipients from the Boer War through to contemporary conflicts.

“The one thing all Victoria Cross recipients have in common is an unwavering commitment to their comrades,” Dr Nelson said.

“Lieutenant Bell’s actions in South Africa are an early example of this, and I thank the Western Australian Museum for allowing more of the general public an opportunity to view it in our Hall of Valour.”

After the Boer War Bell moved to England and joined the colonial service, holding several postings in British Somaliland, Nigeria, and Kenya. During the First World War he served as an officer with the British Army in the Cavalry’s 4th Reserve Regiment and the Royal Irish Dragoon Guards. He later became a district commissioner in Kenya, after which he returned to England. He passed away in 1954.

Two of Bell’s brothers, Private Edgar Watson Bell and Lieutenant Bert Adams Bell, were killed while serving with the Australian Imperial Force; Edgar on Gallipoli with the 16th Battalion on 2 May 1915 and Bert with the 28th Battalion at Pozières on 29 July 1916. 

The Memorial now displays 75 out of the 100 Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians. The medal group awarded to Lieutenant Bell VC includes the following:

• Victoria Cross
• Queen’s South Africa Medal
• King’s South Africa Medal
• Africa General Service Medal
• 1914–15 Star
• British War Medal 1914–18
• Victory Medal
• George VI Coronation Medal
• Edward VII Coronation Medal
• Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal