Victoria Cross awarded to Donald Bell, 1916
National Football Museum, Manchester, courtesy of the Players Foundation

When World War One broke out in 1914, the lives of millions of people would be affected. In Britain, Kitchener began a recruitment campaign to encourage young men across the country to enlist. Donald Bell became the first professional footballer to be called to action.

This exceptional object has a very special story to tell. The Victoria Cross is an iconic medal, award for extraordinary acts of ‘valour’ (or courage) in the presence of ‘the enemy’.

This Victoria Cross is also the only one ever awarded to a professional footballer. That makes it unique within a vary rare category of medals. Whilst there were a staggering 6.5 million British War Medals issued at the end of the World War One, the Victoria Cross was given to just 627 individuals. 

Exploring the medal

The Victoria Cross was, as the name suggests, instituted by Queen Victoria. It was designed to be given to anyone on the merit of conspicuous bravery’, regardless of their rank, length of service or other considerations. 

Victoria Cross medals have been produced by London jewellers ‘Hancocks’ since 1856, since the time of the Crimean War. Each medal is ‘sand cast’ in moulds. They are in the shape of a Maltese cross, made using the bronze from a cannon captured from the Russians. The design on the front (or obverse) features a Royal crown, a standing lion and the motto ‘For Valour’. The red riband originally signified that the recipient was in the Army.

The reverse of each medal is unique, engraved with the name of the recipient and the date of their actions which led to the award. As well as Donald Bell’s name, you can also see his rank, number and unit.

Donald Bell, Football and World War

In the early decades of the 20th century, football was still developing into the professional sport we know today. The football league had only been formed in 1888 and there were far fewer paid footballers than there are today. Donald Bell was one of them.

He was born in Harrogate in Yorkshire in 1890. The son of a joiner, Bell grew up in a modest household and attended Harrogate Grammar School. His passion for sports, particularly football and rugby, were evident. After becoming an English teacher at Starbeck School in Harrogate, he signed professionally for Bradford Park Avenue. This helped him to supplement his teaching wages.

A difficult decision

In 1914 the country had entered what was to become the First World War. Donald Bell wrote these words to the directors at Bradford Park Avenue: “I have given the subject very serious consideration and have now come to the conclusion I am duty-bound to join the ranks.”

He became the first professional footballer to enlist. Like many of Kitchener’s volunteers, Bell found himself involved in trench warfare during the infamous Battle of the Somme which began on the 1 July, 1916 and lasted until 18 November.

Despite a week-long bombardment of the German trenches prior to the attack on 1 July, the allies were unable to break through German defences. The first day of the Somme has gone down in history as ‘the bloodiest day’ in British military history, with 57000 casualties.

However, for Donald Bell, two other dates are most significant: 5 July, when his incredible act of bravery led to him being awarded the Victoria Cross, and 10 July when he was fatally injured.  

Why was Donald Bell awarded the Victoria Cross?

Bell’s Victoria cross was awarded for his actions on 5 July 1916 at Horseshoe Trench, Somme, France. It was reported in the London Gazette on 9 September:

For most conspicuous bravery. During an attack a very heavy enfilade fire was opened on the attacking company by a hostile machine gun. 2nd Lt. Bell immediately, and on his own initiative, crept up a communication trench and then, followed by Corpl. Colwill and Pte. Batey, rushed across the open under very 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 very gallant officer lost his life performing a very similar act of bravery.

Donald Bell described the events with modesty to his family, without dwelling on the exceptionally brave sequence of events. He told his mother “I only chucked one bomb but it did the trick” and his sister, Nancy, “I was lucky enough to knock out a machine-gun which was causing the lads some bother.”

Donald Bell’s Military Helmet,

The Green Howards Museum, Richmond, North Yorkshire

Some people may find this story upsetting. We would recommend that you don’t share this object with children under the age of 14. You can access a page with this object removed here.

Five days after the events that were to see Donald Bell awarded the Victoria Cross, he was involved in another incident. This time, he was to be less fortunate. We get a shocking idea of the violence sustained by the state of the his helmet.

A large hole pierced through the front reveals the first injury that Bell sustained, when he was shot by a sniper. As well as the bullet hole, you can also see evidence of damage to the metal from shrapnel. Incredibly, soldiers did not begin the war with these ‘Brodie helmets’. Young men originally went to the trenches in cloth headwear, those these were gradually replaced from September 1915.

Donald Bell’s brother, Cpl William Bell wrote about the circumstances surrounding Donald’s death: “When leading a bombing attack he received a bullet through the crown of his helmet which did not prevent him carrying on for another 20 minutes of more, during which time shell splinters cut through his helmet and damaged the front of his tunic without wounding him. Finally a large shell splinter entered his body through the shoulder and proved fatal.”

The second object shown, also from The Green Howards Museum, is the commemorative scroll, issued to his family. These scrolls, featuring the ‘King’s Message’ were sent from 1919 given to next-of-kin to acknowledge the sacrifices made by those who had lost their lives. The fragile nature of these scrolls means they don’t often survive.   

Donald Bell’s Victoria Cross

It’s incredibly rare for someone to be awarded a Victoria Cross. Does it surprise you how many are in museums? Why do you think people donate these special objects to museum collections?

In 2010, Donald Bell’s Victoria Cross was purchased at auction by the Professional Footballers’ Association for a reported £210,000. Why do you think this is such an important object in football history?

The Victoria Cross is awarded for ‘conspicuous bravery’. What do you think this term might mean?

Do you think awarding a medal for ‘conspicuous bravery’ might encourage dangerous or risk acts?

Why do you think a lion was selected for the design? What different things could it symbolise?

Do you like the design of the medal?

Victoria Cross medals all have the name of the recipient on the back. Why don’t most medals have their recipients’ names on them – why might this be quite hard to achieve? 

Vocabulary

Recipient: the person who has received something

Conspicuous: clearly visible; something that can be seen or is very clear

Enfilade: a volley of gunfire

Donald Bell’s helmet and scroll

Why do you think this object has ended up in a museum collection? Why do you think it’s important for people to see objects like this today?

Were you surprised that Brodie helmets were not used for the first year of the war?

Look closely at the memorial scroll. What does the design feature? Do you know which King issued it?

Do you think receiving this scroll would provide some comfort to Donald Bell’s family?

In the Classroom 

Hold a 5-Minute Debate

Quick debates are a great way of ‘thinking aloud’ and developing ideas. They don’t need preparation but help to get ideas flowing and introduce vocabulary. Encourage students to share ideas and be prepared to have their minds changed.

Introduce the debate motion: Footballers should be careful to set a good example for young people – they need to live by higher standards than the rest of us because they are so influential.

Do students agree or disagree? Don’t forget to vote at the end. You can read tips for formalising your debates.