Alfred William Paul Bell (12 April 1914 – 4 July 1945) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League. He returned to Shepparton in 1938, and coached his home team. He was killed in action in World War II.
Family The son of John Thomas Bell (1880–1943),Deaths: Bell, The Argus, (Saturday, 9 January 1943), p.2. and Ada Barbara Bell (1878–1938), née Wilson,Deaths: Bell, The Argus, (Saturday, 19 November 1938), p.6. Alfred William Paul Bell was born at Shepparton on 12 April 1914. He married Beatrice "Rannie" Alcorn (born 1915 – died ?) on 16 September 1937.Quiet Ceremony: Bell—Alcorn Wedding, The Shepparton Advertiser, (Friday, 17 September 1937), p.4. They had two daughters, Beverley, and Judith.
Education He attended Shepparton High School; as did his wife.Merit Certificate, The Shepparton Advertiser (Monday, 16 December 1929), pg. 5
Football Bell initially played with the Lemnos Football Club in the Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association (GVSEFA) in 1933 and then won the 1934 – GVSEFA Best & Fairest award / N. Gribble Cup. Bell then moved across to play in the stronger Goulburn Valley Football Netball League with the Shepparton Football Club in 1935.
Having tried out with Richmond two years earlier,Football: Richmond, The Age (Friday, 15 February 1935), pg. 9Recruits are well up to standard, The Sporting Globe (Saturday, 30 March 1935), pg. 7Note that Globe's report refers to him as "P. Bill".Shepparton player with Richmond, The Shepparton Advertiser (Saturday, 13 April 1935), pg. 1 he was cleared from Shepparton to St Kilda in June 1937.Should appear for permits, The Argus (Thursday, 24 June 1937), pg. 12"Praise for G.V. Footballer", The Shepparton Advertiser (Friday, 2 July 1937), pg. 16 He travelled to and from Shepparton, rather than living in Melbourne, and he played 15 senior games with St Kilda over two seasons (1937 and 1938)."Bell Rings True": Outstanding and Intelligent Footballer, The Shepparton Avertiser (Wednesday, 7 July 1937), pg. 9
Athletics Bell had a sensational New Year's Day at the 1938 Shepparton Sports Carnival, winning three different races, including the 130 yards Shepparton Gift.
Military service He served in the Second AIF as a commando. He was killed in action at Balikpapan, Borneo on 4 July 1945.Overseas: Killed in Action, The Argus (Thursday, 23 August 1945), p. 14"Deaths: On Active Service", The Argus (Saturday, 21 July 1945), pg. 14 "Paul Bell Killed", The Shepparton Advertiser (Tuesday, 24 July 1945), pg. 1
See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service
Footnotes
References Roll of Honour: Lance Corporal Alfred William Paul Bell (VX79445), Australian War Memorial. World War Two Nominal Roll: Lance Corporal Alfred William Paul Bell (VX79445). World War Two Service Record: Lance Corporal Alfred William Paul Bell (VX79445), National Archives of Australia. Football Pin-Up No.12: Paul Bell, The Shepparton Advertiser, (Friday, 5 July 1946), p.15. Grant, A., "Lest We Forget – Part 2", saints.com.au, 19 April 2007. RSL Virtual War Memorial: Alfred William Paul (Champ) Bell. Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
External links
Paul Bell, australianfootball.com. Boyles Football Photos: Paul Bell. Bell's Cycles Advertisement via The Sporting Globe newspaper