TOPIC:

So his wife was still living in Preston, Lancashire, at the time of his enlistment?

www.google.com/maps/place/34+East+View,+...7645307!4d-2.6926807

Nick, what was his middle name?

Yes, she was living there. Wow! The actual door. It seems she was reluctant to join Charlie out in South Africa and he possible might have been there a few months/years already before the war broke out. I've uploaded the front page of his journal where he lists his home address. I believe the middle name was Robert. This is the name that David found on the roll and the only Charles Robert Bell listed on this site as a member of the IBC and Natal Volunteers. Since digging into this it seems we are unsure of the details of his life immediately subsequent to the war. I've reached out to the last living direct descendants in S.A. to unearth some more particulars.

I dug the artifacts out from the safe at my mom's home and have attached them here. Oops it seems that attachment upload was being finicky. See subsequent reply for a link to Google drive folder.

Here is the link to the Google drive folder with relevant images of the medal and journal. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zUkw2TDkxIlz3_ZEGD2bqJVgsbfNZ4oF?usp=sharing

Niko,

It is interesting to see that his QSA is mounted with the ribbon of the earlier South Africa General Service Medal.