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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Duncan Peter Bell-Irving

In memory of:

Lieutenant Duncan Peter Bell-Irving

February 26, 1915

Military Service


Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Engineers

Division:

2nd Field Coy.

Additional Information


Commemorated on Page 5 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

X. H. 9.

Location:

STRAND MILITARY CEMETERY is located 13 Km south of Ieper town centre, on the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate, Mesen and on to Armentieres. From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg. The STRAND MILITARY CEMETERY lies on the N365, 4 Km beyond Mesen and immediately before the village of Ploegsteert on the left hand side of the road.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Circumstances of Death Registers– Source: Library and Archives Canada.  CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames:  Bell to Bernaquez.  Mircoform Sequence 8; Volume Number 31829_B016718; Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 152 Page 239 of 670.
  • Photo of Duncan Peter Bell-Irving– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Biography– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Newspaper clipping from Daily Telegraph of April 23, 1915. Image taken from web address of http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11552798/Daily-Telegraph-April-23-1915.html
  • Newspaper clipping– From the London Free Press March 1915. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Vancouver Daily Journal March 1915. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping
  • Document– Title page of Military Engineering (Part V) Miscellaneous - 1914, which belonged to Lt D.P. Bell-Irving
  • Document– Page of Military Engineering (Part V) Miscellaneous - 1914, which was signed by Lt D.P. Bell-Irving
  • Grave marker
  • Cemetery
  • Cross of Sacrifice
  • Grave Marker
  • Memorial– Lieutenant Duncan Peter Bell-Irving, alumni of the Royal Military College of Canada 1905 #696. He served with the Canadian Engineers, 2nd Field Company. He died on Feb 26, 1915.  His name is listed on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada.
  • Memorial Arch– Lieutenant Duncan Peter Bell-Irving, was Cadet #696 in the class of 1905 at the Royal Military College of Canada. He served with the Canadian Engineers, 2nd Field Company. He was killed in action on Feb 26, 1915. He was buried in the Strand Military Cemetery, Comines-Warnetonhainaut, Belgium. An an ex-cadet, he is named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada.
  • Memorial– Pro Deo Et Patria Erected by the Royal Military College Club of Canada Anno Domini 1923. Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada.

696 Lieutenant Duncan Peter Bell-Irving, (RMC 1905) served with the Canadian Engineers, 2nd Field Company. He was killed in action on Feb 26, 1915. He was buried in the Strand Military Cemetery, Comines-Warnetonhainaut, Belgium.
  • Memorial Stained Glass– Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades.

696 Lieutenant Duncan Peter Bell-Irving, (RMC 1905) served with the Canadian Engineers, 2nd Field Company. He was killed in action on Feb 26, 1915. He was buried in the Strand Military Cemetery, Comines-Warnetonhainaut, Belgium.
  • Photo of Duncan Peter Bell-Irving– 696 Lieutenant Duncan Peter Bell-Irving (RMC 1904), was the first British Columbia Land Surveyor and the first British Columbia officer killed in the WWI. The son of Dr. D. Bell-Irving, Vancouver BC, Lieutenant Duncan Peter Bell-Irving was born in England, January 3rd, 1888 and came with his parents to Vancouver in April, the same year. He graduated from the Royal Military College, Kingston, in 1908. He was articled to Mr. G.H Dawson, B.C.L.S., former Surveyor General, and obtained his commission as a BC Land Surveyor in 1913. He entered into partnership with the late Caprain K.C.C Taylor, D.S.O., B.C.L.S. under the firm name of “Taylor and Bell-Irving” of Vancouver. He was engaged on a Government survey on the Naas River when war broke out and he immediately made arrangements to come to Vancouver to enlist. He went overseas as a Lieutenant in the Canadian Engineers and reached France in January 1915. On February 25th, while in charge of a working party, he was shot by a sniper and died the same night.
  • Map– The Bell-Irving River was named after 696 Lieutenant Duncan Peter Bell-Irving (RMC 1904), BCLS (1888-1915) of Vancouver, who was killed in action in Belgium in the early stages of the war. He went to the Royal Military College, Kingston, Canada, and graduated in 1908, obtaining a commission in the Canadian Militia Reserve. Bell-Irving had been sent by the provincial government to survey & explore the upper part of the Nass River, including the north fork, and when the war broke out was so-engaged, and entirely out of reach of all outside communication. The Bell-Irving River flows SE into Nass River above Meziadin Lake, Cassiar Land District of British Columbia. Latitude: 56°10'00"  Longitude: 129°02'00"
  • Memorial– Royal Military College of Canada cadet memorial doll
  • Memorial– Memorial stair, Royal Military College, Kingston

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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