Editing Donald Simpson Bell (section)

==World War I==
When [[World War I]] broke out, he became the first professional footballer to enlist into the [[British Army]] – joining the [[West Yorkshire Regiment]] in 1915.<ref>{{cite news| title= Somme memorial to mark English football's VC | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1345393/Somme-memorial-to-mark-English-footballs-VC.html | author= Paul Stokes | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=19 June 2001 |accessdate=8 January 2022}}</ref> He was promoted to Lance Corporal and then commissioned into the 9th Battalion, [[Green Howards|Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own Yorkshire Regiment)]], going to France in November 1915. While on leave in June 1916 he married Rhoda Margaret {{nee|Bonson}} before returning to the front. After being in reserve for the opening of the battle of the Somme, the 9th battalion were ordered into the front line on 5 July.<ref name=ODNB/>

Bell was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his actions on 5 July 1916 at Horseshoe Trench, [[Somme (department)|Somme]], France.<ref name="Glendenning">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/sep/06/first-world-war-bravery-football |title=Tales of first world war bravery show football in whole new light {{!}} Barry Glendenning |last=Glendenning |first=Barry |date=6 September 2015 |work=The Guardian |access-date=12 March 2019 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
{{Blockquote|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.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29740|page=8870|supp=y|date=9 September 1916}}</ref>}}<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:VCDonaldSimpsonBellGrave.jpg|thumb|175px|right]] -->

Describing the deed in a letter to his parents, Bell stated that "I must confess that it was the biggest fluke alive and I did nothing. I only chucked one [[Grenade|bomb]], but it did the trick".<ref name="Glendenning" /> Bell was shot in the head by a [[sniper]] on 10 July 1916 while attacking a machine-gun post near the village of [[Contalmaison]].<ref name="Glendenning" /> He is buried at [[Gordon Dump Cemetery]], near [[Albert, Somme|Albert]].<ref name=cwgc>{{cwgc|id=190937|name=Bell, Donald Simpson|accessdate=16 November 2010}}</ref> His Victoria Cross was formerly displayed at the [[Green Howards Museum]] in [[Richmond, Yorkshire]]. On 25 November 2010 it was auctioned by London medal specialists, [[Spink & Son|Spink]]. It was purchased for a reported £210,000 by the [[Professional Footballers' Association]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/aaauctio.htm|title=Sales of the Victoria Cross |website=victoriacross.org |accessdate=8 January 2022}}</ref> and is on display at the [[National Football Museum]] in Manchester.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/collections_detail/donald-bells-victoria-cross-1916/|title=National Football Museum |website=/www.nationalfootballmuseum.com |accessdate=8 January 2022}}</ref>