Stephen Arthur Bell, Trooper

Steve Bell had a loving but harsh start to his Depression-era prairie life and that’s probably what allowed him to survive WWII. Not that he fought in many battles. He said his battle only lasted about nine hours. It was what followed that proved difficult.

Trooper Bell, Regimental Number - B-74388, was born to Ukrainian immigrants on July 4, 1922, in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. His parents didn’t live there, but his mother was visiting her parents. Travel would be a big part of family life as the family grew to number eight children and Steve’s father followed the opportunity for work around the Yorkton area of south-central Saskatchewan.

In a hand-written journal, Steve described his work as a railway track inspector in the winter of 1937 (he was 15). On Saturdays, he walked six miles, out and back, looking for 8-to-12-inch gaps in the tracks, caused by 45 to 55 below zero temperatures. He’d flag the gap and set three marker torpedoes to warn the engineer. On Sundays, he walked another section. He was paid $2 for walking 22 miles. Other part-time work included collecting gopher tails, crow eggs, and crow legs for rebates, and delivering groceries.

Following two years of high school in Govan, Saskatchewan, in 1938 Steve sought full-time work. He prospected for gravel and then shovelled it into trucks, worked on harvest crews and even drove cattle from pasture to stockyards. But it wasn’t enough. His parents needed more money or fewer mouths to feed, so 17-year-old Steve hopped on a freight train for an extremely cold ride to his brother’s home in Montreal, where he hoped to find work. Finding no work there, Bell headed west to Toronto where he looked for work and slept rough or in hostels.

On May 21, 1940, Steve entered the University Avenue Armouries and attempted toenlist. In the first line-up he gave his true date of birth and was rejected because he was only 17. In the second line, he said he was 18 but was turned away for still being too young. He tried again, saying he was 19, but didn’t have the birth certificate to prove it. Hungry, he went to the cookhouse and rapped on the door, explaining that he was trying to enlist, but was broke and hungry. He was fed and then set to work peeling potatoes. When he said he was going to sleep on a park bench, he was advised to go to the Horse Palace at the Exhibition Grounds. The next day, back at University Ave Armouries, Steve discovered that if he said he was 20 years old, he could enlist without a birth certificate or parental permission. His new birthday was May 2, 1920.

After a few days of medical tests, on the 29th of May 1940 he was assigned to the 48th Highlanders. Bell went to Camp Borden for basic training the next month. Then, from February to May 1941 he was at the Canadian Signals Training Centre, Camp Barriefield, outside Kingston, for radio and wireless operator training. On June 4, 1941, he transferred to the 14th Army Tank Battalion Canadian Armoured Corps (CAC), “The Calgary Regiment” or CTR. A fresh member of the tank corps, young Steve embarked from Halifax, NS on 20 June 1941 and arrived at Gourock, Scotland on July 1, 1941.

Canadian troops were largely billeted in Sussex, south of London, England. The time spent training and experiencing English life was described as “The Long Wait.” The lads were keen to stop Hitler, but it was not to be. During this time, Trooper Bell received additional training and on 30 Dec. 1941 became a Qualified driver I.C. Class III(T). On 05 January 1942 he qualified as Driver Operator Group C, with a pay raise. He also met his future wife, a Navy WREN.

At last, there was action! On 18 August 1942, Headquarters F Troop, B Squadron boarded Tank Landing Craft (TLC) 4 on the Isle of Wight, headed for Dieppe, France in Operation Jubilee. Bell was the driver of the Churchill Mk. I tank with turret number F3, named “BOLSTER”, war department unit T31137R. He didn’t get very far at all. The rocks and barriers at White Beach, Dieppe that morning of 19 August 1942, immobilized the tank. After firing all their ammunition, Bell and fellow Trooper John Booker hopped out of the tank and began firing their machine guns. Hunkered down in a hollow, their war ended when the nearby tank was shelled. Bell’s back and buttocks were now full of German shrapnel.

The story of the Prisoners of War (PoWs) taken at Dieppe that day is well known andSteve’s journey and experience was not unique. He was sent to Stalag  VIIIB, near Lamsdorf, Poland and then to Stalag IID, near Stargardt, Poland. Like many prisoners, Steve used time spent on work parties to attempt escape (four times) and, like many others, was injured by guards and spent time in solitary confinement.

His early life experiences with hard, physical labour and harsh cold may have saved Bell’s life. In February 1945, Germany began emptying prison camps and marching the prisoners westward, fleeing the advancing Russian army. Termed “The Death March” or “The Long March” the cold temperatures, lack of food, rest, shelter, warm clothing and footwear resulted in a huge loss of life. Steve said they started with 1200 men and only 800 remained alive at the end of march. Drying his socks by tucking them in his armpits, Steve kept his feet dry and was able to keep walking. And his will to live was incredible.

He and a buddy made their final escape in the spring of 1945, near Lubec, Germany. Nearing hopelessness, the young men decided that since the columns of marching men were being strafed by airborne gunfire, they had nothing to lose by seeking food and shelter in a nearby village. They figured they were going to die soon anyway. Fortunately, the German woman who opened the door was friendly. Her neighbour was even friendlier, as her son was a PoW in Gravenhurst, Ontario and was experiencing a much different wartime imprisonment. Loaded with food and a map, Steve and Murray Denneau were pointed in the direction of the Russian army. Eventually, the weary men arrived in Lubec and were very happy to discover that the war had ended three days earlier.

Back in England on May 11, 1945, Steve had a much-welcomed shower and got ready to resume civilian life. Before leaving for Canada, he married Joan Elizabeth Mackenzie, then left the UK on August 7. His final discharge was dated October 25, 1945, in Toronto.

Taking advantage of post-war programs, Steve studied horticulture in Guelph and became a landscape gardener. He and Joan raised four children in mid-town Toronto. Steve and Joan divorced and he moved to Uxbridge, where he lived with Marilyn Dobie, his banner sponsor. They enjoyed years of travel, often meeting Steve’s veteran buddies, and spent many winters in Arizona. Steve also enjoyed Veterans’ Afternoons at the Uxbridge Legion and valued his relationship with Ted Barris, whose works feature parts of Steve’s story.

Steve Bell died on April 14, 2009, age 87, of lymphoma. A memorial tree is planted in his honour at his Uxbridge home.

Awards/Medals - CVSM and clasp, 1939-45 Star Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45, Dieppe Medal

We thank him for his service.

We will remember them.