John Preston Bell died in his 92nd year on 24th April 2023. He completed his National Service with the 8th Hussars. John was the last surviving 8th Hussar officer to have served with the Regiment in The Korean War.
On the day of his passing out at Mons Officer Cadet School in August 1950, John had no idea which Regiment he would like to join. A friend, also on the parade, suggested that the dress and hat worn by the officer taking the salute might be a good choice. That officer was an 8th Hussar wearing the Tent Hat and after the dismissal, John applied and became an 8th Hussar. Little did he realise that within six weeks he would be on his way, on the SS Empire Medway, bound for Korea.
As a young newly commissioned Cornet he joined C Squadron, initially as a tank commander in Lieutenant Boyall’s 1st Troop. One of the Squadron’s most significant operations was the Imjin River Battle between the 22nd and 25th of April 1951, in which 500 officers and men of the Gloucestershire Regiment were captured. John’s Squadron, under the command of Major Henry Huth, provided critical support to the Northumberland Fusiliers and Ulster Rifles during the three-day battle saving those battalions from the same fate as the Glosters.
In a presentation made some years later, John recalled several relevant incidents from the battle:
The sight of an enemy platoon led by an officer in a Chinese-brimmed hat with a sword drawn. My driver, Tpr Teale, getting out to lift a wounded man onto the track guard. Carrying infantry on my tank’s engine covers heading south – so the gun was traversed over the back towards the enemy but with the infantry on the back we couldn’t fire, therefore I depressed the barrel to give them some cover. My driver swung off the road to avoid Chinese box mines, half losing a track and expecting to bail out and be captured or killed, but surprisingly the track slipped back on again and we carried on. Seeing Doug Patchett (the RMO) among Chinese by the side of the road tending the wounded – friendly and enemy – waving cheerfully as we passed.
Although unscathed during the operation John’s tank was very accurately mortared a few days later, fortunately without serious damage or injury, for which he was told an American unit had been responsible!
Shortly after the battle John left Korea to return to England at the end of his National Service and began his first term at Cambridge University, where he read English. After graduating, wanting to return to the Far East, he worked for Scientific Instrument Ltd of Singapore before pursuing a career in publishing and advertising back in London.
Although his time with the Regiment was relatively short John was deeply affected by his experiences in Korea, in particular by the appalling conditions the Korean civilian population suffered throughout the war. So much so that in his later life he returned on several occasions. His first visit was in 2001, followed up again in 2004 and 2005. He came to know many Korean families, even being adopted by one, the older members of whom had been amongst the tragic refugees trudging through the snow during the terrible winter of 1951.
John was enormously impressed by the energy, cheerful optimism and success of the South Korean population in rebuilding their country and rightly approved of their achievements. When his adoptive Korean family, who had corresponded with John for so long, were informed of his death they sent very loving messages to his family and commemorated him at a special ceremony at their temple.
In his later years, John’s presentations and discussions at military conferences and other institutions were of particular value and much sought after. Furthermore, he retained a great interest in his old Regiment right up until his death.
John Preston Bell was a remarkable person, much respected by all those who served and worked with him. Our sympathies are very much with his wife Susan and family who supported him through his long, very active, years.