Caricature drawn by G.E. Gascoigne Thomson, portraying James Bell in his Home Guard uniform.
James Ernest Bell was a civil servant with the Inland Revenue and came to Llandudno from London. He worked out of the St Kilda Hotel. He was experienced in anti-gas measures having been an instructor in London since 1938 and although holding the rank of Staff Sergeant in the drawing was later commissioned and attached to Headquarter Company as Chemical Warfare Officer. Having attended further courses at an Army Chemical School he was quick to ensure that all the men of the Llandudno Home Guard battalion were well drilled in anti-gas techniques.
A man of untold patience, he repeatedly demonstrated to the men the correct technique to roll and tie gas capes and in tests personally shepherded each volunteer through the gas chamber so they were confident that their gas masks functioned correctly while not wearing a gas mask himself. This probably accounts for the gas mask trailing from his waist in the caricature. Lieutenant Bell's lectures were amongst the most popular being humorous and easy to understand and he was also a popular raconteur at battalion social events with a party trick involving blowing out a candle. However, he was gutted at a battalion fundraiser not to be able to perform his act as it was deemed not suitable entertainment on a Sunday!
[Information from Adrian Hughes, Home Front Museum].