Donald Bell VC & Marcus Rashford MBE: More Than Footballers
Since the Football League’s inception in 1888, football has played an integral role in bringing communities together, even in a club’s darkest times. In the longest days of the first lockdown it was the return of football that gave so many the lift they needed. It showed the country a path out was taking shape, it showed life would soon resemble something close to normal. But until that time could come, before the return to family get-togethers, before those drinks in the sun-drenched beer garden could be shared with friends, the sport would take on the burden of entertaining the masses. It was a reminder of just how important the beautiful game can be for people’s morale and mental health. Not just for the dreams of winning trophies, but also for the conversations. The debates and the memories shared between friends and families – maybe even strangers. 2020 was the year football reaffirmed its special place in the hearts of the British people. In 2021, the attempted introduction of the European Super League showed, in a way more explicit than seen before, just how important the English football pyramid is to the everyday football fan.
It was also the year for footballers to step into the limelight off the field too. There was no shortage of footballers who were willing to go beyond the call of duty to help others. For many it was simply agreeing to a pay cut so non-playing staff at their club could keep their jobs. Plenty went into the community to help with delivering essentials to those who could not or dared not get themselves. Then there has been Marcus Rashford. He leant his voice to the thousands of children across Britain who rely on free school meals to avoid starvation. His persistent selflessness and bravery almost singlehandedly overturned one of the most disgraceful and avoidable derelictions of duty seen in the last hundred years of British politics. In recognition, amongst many other awards, Rashford was awarded an MBE. In a time of national crisis, football and footballers rose to the occasion. But Rashford was willing to stick his head above the parapet in a way nobody else was. Brushing off the barrage of indirect attempts of right-wing commentators to discredit him, he focussed on delivering for those who needed his help – not his name for clickbait. The coronavirus pandemic has been the most difficult and deadly event since the two world wars. In November 1914, another professional footballer was preparing to do his bit for his country.
Donald Simpson Bell was born in Harrogate on 3 December 1890. Bell attended a Harrogate-based grammar school before going to London to study at Westminster College. During his time there he signed amateur forms with Crystal Palace, but never played a first team game for ‘the Glaziers’ as they were known at the time. Upon finishing his studies at Westminster, Bell returned to Harrogate to teach, while also playing for several amateur sides. That was to change in October 1912, when Football League Second Division side Bradford Park Avenue (currently playing in the Vanarama National North) offered Bell a professional contract. Bell made his debut in 1913 against Wolverhampton Wanderers. In the following 1913/14 season, Bell helped Bradford Park Avenue to promotion to the First Division. There is no doubting the opportunity to play First Division football would have been one Bell dreamt of as a child, but it was a dream never to be realised.
On 4 August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany. The official reason given for the declaration was that it was the only acceptable response to the German invasion of Belgium. The invasion was indeed a violation of the 1839 Treaty of London, which established that the southern (and Catholic) states of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (a predominantly Protestant country) would gain independence in the new form of the Kingdom of Belgium. The Kingdom of Belgium first declared its independence from the Netherlands in 1830, but the Dutch didn’t take too kindly to this decision and initially refused to accept Belgium’s independence. The Belgian Revolt followed, beginning on 25 August 1830 and ending on 21 July 1831 with King Leopold I crowned as the first king of Belgium. It took a further eight years for the Netherlands to accept Belgium’s independence. This acceptance was formalised in the 1839 Treaty of London, which was signed by Belgium and the Netherlands as well as Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Russia and Austria who all agreed to protect Belgium’s independence. But that was not all. The Kingdom of Belgium encompassed more than just the southern states of the Netherlands. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was in a personal union with the Netherlands when the 1830 Belgian revolt occurred, and the majority of Luxembourgers supported the Belgian wishes for independence. As such, much of Luxembourg was seized by Belgian-sympathising Luxembourgers wishing to join the newly independent Belgian Kingdom. The 1839 Treaty of London saw 65% of Luxembourg’s territory ceded to Belgium. For seventy-five years the integrity of Belgium’s borders was respected, so when Germany decided to invade Belgium in order to reach France, the Treaty of London provided a perfectly viable reason to go to war.
In reality, protecting Belgium’s independence on its own was not a particularly compelling reason to risk the lives of British soldiers. The issue was only pressing because the German army posed a serious threat to one of Britain’s key allies, France. The German’s had declared war on the French on 3 August 1914. A day later Britain’s Prime Minister David Lloyd George declared war on Germany, after leading Liberal MPs threatened to resign from the Coalition Government if the Government failed to support the French. It would be unfair to suggest Lloyd George only declared war against Germany because he faced a rebellion from senior politicians in his own party – he may well have come to the same conclusion without their pressure. But what it is probably safe to assert, is that whilst the Treaty of London was cited as the reason for the declaration, a noble act which displayed honour and integrity, it was really the threat to France rather than Belgium which dragged the UK into what would soon become known as the Great War.
Unlike most sports that paused competition at the outset of war, professional football continued for one more season and the 1914/15 season was completed in its entirety. Unquestionably the correct decision, as it ended with Tottenham Hotspur being relegated to the Second Division and Arsenal being promoted to the First Division. Supposedly Arsenal’s promotion was awarded because of a backhand deal by Arsenal’s chairman to ensure they were included in a newly restructured and larger first division (with Spurs still being relegated), but when you see the things Harry Kane gets away with these days I think it’s only fair Arsenal got away with their own bit of dodgy business. Bradford Park Avenue finished 9th in the First Division that year; they did so without Bell.
Donald Bell enlisted as a private in the 9th (Service) Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment (also known as the Green Howards). In doing so he became the first professional footballer to enlist into the British Army. A talented military man, Bell was quickly commissioned to the rank of second lieutenant, the lowest officer rank in the British Army. Nine months after enlisting, Bell was sent to France. The early months of his war were quiet. His battalion were stationed close to Armentières, a small town on the French border with Belgium which saw little action. When the Green Howards were sent south to the Somme that was to change.
The calamitous tactics used by the British Army in the first weeks of the Battle of the Somme are well documented, but here are some stats to remind you of how deadly the attempted British advances proved to be. On day one of the Somme offensive (1 July), 19,240 British soldiers were killed and 38,000 more were wounded. By the end of July 200,000 British and French soldiers were dead. By the end of the Battle of the Somme, Britain had advanced seven miles and failed to break the German line. It came at the cost of roughly 420,000 British lives.
Fortunately for Bell and the Green Howards, they spent the 1 July in reserve, away from the strolling slaughter occurring in no man’s land. However, on 5 July they were called into action. The Green Howards were instructed to attack the German-held Horseshoe Trench. As they did so, they came under heavy fire. Accompanied by a corporal and a private, Bell evaded enemy fire as he sprinted across no man’s land to reach Horseshoe Trench. With a throw of a grenade, Bell took out a German machine gun nest. His actions saved the lives of many soldiers of the Green Howards and made the advance of the few successful attacks the British Army enjoyed in the first week of the battle. Sadly, just five days later Bell was killed instantly after being shot by a machine gun in another attack on the German line.
His actions on 5 July led to him posthumously being awarded the Victoria Cross on 9 September 1916. The London Gazette recorded the achievement:
For most conspicuous bravery (Horseshoe Trench, France). During an attack a very heavy enfilade fire was opened on the attacking company by a hostile machine-gun. [Second] Lieutenant Bell immediately, and on his own initiative, crept up a communication trench and then, followed by Corporal Colwill and Private Batey, rushed across the open under heavy fire and attacked the machine gun, shooting the firer with his revolver, and destroying gun and personnel with bombs. This very brave act saved many lives and ensured the success of the attack. Five days later this gallant officer lost his life performing a similar act of bravery.
When his men and his country needed him most, Donald Bell didn’t shirk what he believed to be his moral responsibility. His actions on 5 July 1916 were ones of pure heroism. He also showed great humility when he tried to downplay his actions. In a letter to his parents after the incident, Bell described his dash into Horseshoe Trench and the subsequent grenade throw as ‘the biggest fluke alive… I chucked the bomb and it did the trick.’ This modest recount does Bell an injustice. Few would have been brave enough to risk his life in that way and the Victoria Cross was a just reward.
Of course, it would be wrong to suggest the personal risk Marcus Rashford took in his campaign to ensure none of Britain’s children go hungry is on a par with Donald Bell’s short crusade across no man’s land, far from it. But the opposition for Rashford was different, those who sought to challenge him were not armed with machine guns but with skewed moral compasses. Therefore, the inherent risks that come attached to helping those around him are different to the circumstances Bell found himself in. For Bell’s bravery a Victoria Cross was a just reward, for Rashford an MBE was well deserved. The immediate threat was far higher for Bell, but the intentions of both footballers were and remain equally commendable and the consequences of both acts proved to be lifesaving. In the national crisis of their lifetimes, both Marcus Rashford MBE and Donald Bell VC showed immense courage and leadership, despite the failings of the decision makers, who sorely lacked the same courage and leadership. Bell and Rashford did themselves, their profession, and their country proud and were suitably rewarded.
Sources:
https://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/donald-bell-first-world-war/
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/sep/06/first-world-war-bravery-football
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/9-facts-about-football-in-the-first-world-war
Battle of the Somme - Deaths, Battles & Legacy - HISTORY
Cover Image:
"Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-la Boisselle, Somme - 2nd Lt Donald ('Donny') Simpson Bell VC (4 A 8)" by woodenwonder7 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
