Burritt bell

      Burritt Bell was a 23 year old buttermaker in Smith, Ontario. He was born on June 21st of 1894 to Thomas George  Bell. He also had a brother William Bell, to whom Burritt left his belongings. He lived a quiet life, he was not married and did not have any children. A description given on Bell on his attestation papers, performed by a physician to make sure he was fit for war and to find any distinctive features that could be used to identify him in the event of his death - In Bell’s case they found a pair of flat feet - said he was 5 feet and 6 inches with dark hair and blue eyes. Burritt hadn’t even had any militia experience when he got a draft letter. He signed his attestation papers in Port Hope on October 18th of 1917. For the majority of the war soldiers could not be drafted but under the Military Services Act of 1917, brought into place by Prime Minister Robert Borden, that was changed. Burritt arrived in Europe on January 7th of 1918 and was a private with the 6th Canadian Regiment and the 38th Battalion. Burritt Bell was a member of the Canadian military when the Canadian Cavalry Attack at Moreuil Wood, The Battle of Amiens (which is also the beginning of the ‘Hundred Days’), The Battle of The Scarpe, The Battle of the Drocourt-Queant Line, The Battle of the Canal Du Nord and Cambrai and when the Canadian Corp took over Valenciennes took place. Bell unfortunately would pass away on November 4th in Valenciennes. Private Burritt Bell served 301 days (9 months and 28 days). He is now buried in Valenciennes St. Roch Communal Cemetery in Nord France.

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