Major William Bertram Bell

Major William Bertram Bell (died 28 November 1971, aged 90) was a British Army officer and former president of the Munster Agricultural Society.
Born in Co. Durham, England, he served in the Boer War with the 12th Rival Lancers, subsequently in India and later in France during World War I. He was a resident of Fota House through his marriage to Dorothy Smith-Barry in 1917. He was involved in charitable, social and recreational societies, including the Scout Association of Ireland. The Irish Examiner described him as a "man of extremely charitable disposition." He was a supporter of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI). Bell was a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron. He was a yachtsman in Cork Harbour and was president of the Munster Agricultural Society for approximately 12 years. He stood down as president as 1968 and automatically became an honorary vice-president. Major Bell and Dorothy Bell were joint masters of the United Hunt Club.
According to former maid Patty Butler, Major Bell was "supposed to be a wizard on the stock exchange. They also had the farm and they owned a lot of houses and property in Cobh and Tipperary".
A series of nurses were employed to nurse Major Bell in his declining years until he died. Major Bell is buried in St. Lappan's Church of Ireland Graveyard in Little Island, Co. Cork, Ireland.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu