Major William Bertram Bell

Major William Bertram Bell J.P
File:Major Bell County Cork.jpg Major Bell in the 1950s
Died	28 November 1971 County Cork, Ireland
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Unit	12th Royal Lancers
Battles/wars	Second Boer War, World War I
Spouse(s)	Dorothy Bell
Relations	Arthur Hugh Smith-Barry, 1st Baron Barrymore (father-in-law)

Major William Bertram Bell (died 28 November 1971, aged 90) was a British Army officer and former president of the Munster Agricultural Society.

Born in Co. Durham, England, he served in the Boer War with the 12th Royal Lancers, subsequently in India and later in France during World War I, and, according to the Irish Independent, he was severely wounded. He was a resident of Fota House through his marriage to Dorothy Smith-Barry in 1917. He was involved in charitable, social and recreational societies, including the Scout Association of Ireland. The Irish Examiner described him as a "man of extremely charitable disposition." He was a supporter of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI). He served as chairman of the Cork and District Local Association of the Boy Scouts of Ireland. Bell was a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron. He was a yachtsman in Cork Harbour and was president of the Munster Agricultural Society for approximately 12 years. During his time in this role, the Irish Independent reported in 1954 that he and Dorothy Bell farmed over 1500 acres in their estate at Carrigtwohill. The Irish Independent also reported in 1958 that he used "the most modern mechanised and scientific methods" and that "he has a big reputation, specialising in Hereford, Shorthorn and Aberdeen-Angus breeds. Another speciality of his is the breeding of the Suffolk strain of sheep." At a meeting of the General Committee of the Society, Bell proposed a vote of sympathy following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958. He stood down as president in 1968 and automatically became an honorary vice-president. The Southern Star wrote in 2006 that his farm was "noted for its champion herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle."

Major Bell and Dorothy Bell were joint masters of the United Hunt Club. He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P). Major Bell owned Innislinga Abbey. In 1993, the Irish Press reported that Bell used what became the longest hole at the Fota Island Golf Course as an aerodrome after World War I.

According to former maid Patty Butler, Major Bell was "supposed to be a wizard on the stock exchange. They also had the farm and they owned a lot of houses and property in Cobh and Tipperary". Bell had three daughters; Susan, Evelyn and Rosemary, who were reportedly looked after by what the Irish Independent called "an army of servants".

A series of nurses were employed to nurse Major Bell in his declining years until he died. Major Bell is buried in St. Lappan's Church of Ireland Graveyard in Little Island, Co. Cork, Ireland.

References

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