A highly emotive group of medals and ephemera relating to Arthur Victor Bell, Engineer and survivor of the R-101 crash comprising Three: British War, Victory medals (60736 2 AM, A.V. Bell, RAF together with miniature BWM and Victory; ISM, Elizabeth II issue in original case (Arthur Victor Bell) with award document dated 30th September 1960; and an HM silver R.A.O.B jewel of Coswick Lodge, reverse engraved “Presented to Bro. A.V. Bell C.P. for Services Rendered Aug 1932”. Average GVF. Sold together with an extensive archive of letters, photos and other documents, the highlights being I) Career: Certificate of Employment for WWI, 2 handwritten letters from G. Herbert Scott giving Bell a reference (11th June 1922) with a follow up apology (25th June 1922) stating “I am extremely sorry I have not sent on your recommendation sooner, I wrote it out some time ago and was under the impression it had been sent off….”; a duplicated letter offering employment at the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, Civil Personnel as Engineer @ £3/15/- per week, signed in ink G. Herbert Scott; several letters from the Air Ministry certifying Bell licensed to act as an Aircraft Engineer (1925) and other letters, copy of employment record up to 1955, etc.2) R-33 : a pencil written 2 side foolscap resume commencing “Aug. 18th 1921 arrived at Cardington with H.M.A. R-33” up to the end of WWII and in which he describes the R-33 breakaway thus: “April 16th R33 broke away from the mooring mast in a 70mph wind & we were blown across the North Sea to Holland but we got back again under our own power and landed back at Pulham being able to say that we had flown to Holland backwards…” (not signed but believed to be in Bell’s hand); an invitation card to Bell 30th April 1925 celebrating “the glorious achievement of The crew of the R-33 on 16th and 17th April 1925” (breakaway flight); 2 R33 Xmas cards, list of R33 clothing returned by Bell in 1926; a ticket and menu for the R33 Re-union Dinner, Bedford 1924, the menu cover with an amusing cartoon of the “airship” bearing anchors, coaching lamps, spring buffer, rigging with caption “All adrift again”, reverse signed by Bell and over 30 other guests including G. Herbert Scott, H. Carmichael Irwin, Harry Leech, F. M. Rope etc; a second R33 annual dinner menu, bearing a small photo of the airship on the cover, and again signed by many including Scott, Irwin, Gent etc3) R-101 related paperwork: a most poignant Post Office Telegraph stamped Bedford 5 Oc ’30 from Beauvais to Mrs Bell simply stating “Quite Safe = Arthur”; 2 RAF Message Forms 818 to Mrs Bell, the first stating “The Air Ministry deeply regret to have to inform you that HM Airship R101 was lost over France about 2am this morning and A.V. Bell is reported saved”, the second: “The following message was received from the Daily Express representative who visited your husband in hospital this morning “Don’t worry at all, I am quite OK. Shall be home as soon as possible, Arthur” “, both these messages bearing the stamp of the Control Room, Royal Airship Works, received 5th Oct 1930 although no actual time shown; a Post Office Telegraph stamped London 6 Oc ’30 “Husband arrives London tomorrow night. Will wire time of arrival then. Vice Consul”; a card to admit Mrs Bell to the Platform at Victoria Station at 1.40AM on 8th October to welcome her husband home; a postcard from Beauvais from Bell to his wife showing where he was staying with the message “ ..I am OK, some of the boys are burnt a bit but I am only scratched…; an invitation to the unveiling of the Ensign of R101 and memorial tablet at Cardington Church August 1931 and an Order of Service for the same; an RAOB Memorial Order of Service, Cardington Church, Oct 6th 1935. (One can only imagine the roller coaster of emotions Mrs Bell would have experienced at this time. Presumably she would have heard of the crash, then received the Air Ministry forms and telegram , but, on learning of Arthur’s safety she would, no doubt, be unable to show her relief knowing 48 other families in the neighbourhood would be grieving).(4) Personal papers etc include letters, Certificate of Membership of R.A.O.B, Xmas cards, memorial card for his mother Esther 1925 and his driving licence, various photos including 2 of R101 crew, and one of Bell cutting a lonely figure carrying his wreath to the service at St Paul‘s. It must be appreciated that some paperwork shows wear and some letters etc split along the folds See Plate.32. Note: Arthur Victor “Ginger” Bell, born August 31st 1898. Employed at the National Steam Car Co Chelmsford, Essex as General Engineer Youth in the Fitting and Machine shop from Sept 1914 to January 1917 when he left to join the forces. Served with the RFC February 1917 to April 1918, then, on formation of the RAF April 1918 to April 1921. Transferred to Class E Reserve, served overseas France and Germany June 1918 to November 1919. He then joined the Civil Aviation Traffic Office with Airship Flying Experiments as an Engineer Airship Crew from April 1921 to November 1922 and left at the cessation of Airship Flying. Following a spell as Engineer at the Chelmsford Pumping Station and left in June 1924 to return to Airship flying and went back to the Royal Airship Works, Cardington as Engineer (Airship Crew) and C/H Winch Section.Bell, in his capacity of engineer, was aboard the R101 in an engine gondola slung about 20 feet below the hull aft. At the 2.00 a.m. change of watch on the airship Bell was to be relieved by Joe Binks. Binks had to be roused from his bunk to take his watch and arrived about 3 minutes late for duty, whilst their change over took place the airship dived, levelled out and dived again crashing in the side of a hill. Had Joe Binks relieved Bell on time there is no question the latter would have lost his life. Fate played her hand a second time when a water tank overhead burst extinguishing the flames enough to enable the two to get clear with only minor burns, and, with Harry Leech, they were able to take part in the sombre parade on 7th October at Beauvais where they walked behind one of the carriages. Following the crash of the R101 Bell remained at Cardington were he was employed overhauling transport for the RAF. His resume states “Late in 1931 R100 was sold for scrap & broke up in No 1 shed, that put an end to Airships in this country. We carried on experiments with balloons which we were flying at over 20,000ft. In 1933 Cardington again became busy this time with Aeroplanes and by 1936 every where was filled with Air Frames for storage…In 1939 the Aeroplanes left Cardington & Balloons took over in a big way & Cardington became the Home of the Balloon Training Unit where all Balloon Operators, men and women, were trained for the Balloon Barrage all over England for of course that year war came. We became BDE Balloon Development Establishment & done (sic) all the experiments for Balloon (sic) of all kinds.… At the latter part of (the) war when the Germans started sending over his flying bombs Balloons were again in great demand and BDE made all the gear at Cardington to hang on the Balloons for catching Flying Bombs…” Following the war Arthur remained at Cardington until his retirement and worked on the airship Bournemouth in 1950.Arthur Bell died on 21st December 1973 and, as was his wish, was buried in Cardington Churchyard, close to his pals from the R101.
