Ken Bell
Encyclopedia
Ken Bell was a Canadian photographer who served with the Canadian armed forces during the Second World War. As a lieutenant
in the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit
, he participated in the Normandy Landings, photographing and recording the liberation of France, Belgium and Holland, and finally documenting the occupation of Germany. After the war he had a successful career as a professional photographer, and published a number of books including Not in Vain, a collection of photographs showing the changes which had taken place in Europe since the end of the war.
, Ontario
, on July 30, 1914. He was the oldest of five children born to carpenter Charles Bell (1881–c. 1958) and Edith Bell, both immigrants from Yorkshire
, England. They lived at 1211 Dufferin St, Toronto.
while serving as a lieutenant in the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit
.
Like his better known contemporary Robert Capa
, Bell participated in the Normandy Landings, disembarking at Juno Beach
on June 6, 1944 with The Highland Light Infantry of Canada (now known as the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada). Many of his photographs were taken in color - a first for the Canadian Army - though these did not become public until around twenty years later. They are the only surviving color photographs of the Normandy Landings.
Members of the CFPU were often in the front line, and sometimes even ahead of it. During the liberation of Dieppe in 1944, as the Manitoba Dragoons awaited orders to advance, members of the CFPU including Ken Bell and Brian O'Regan were the first Allied servicemen to enter the town.
Bell's war photographs – taken with a Rolleiflex
camera – are housed by the Library and Archives of Canada
in Ottawa
. Many of the original negatives of his photographs are held by the Canadian Forces Photo Unit and the City of Toronto Archives
.
In 1953 he published Curtain Call, a collection of photographs in which he "tried to show the changes brought by man and nature in the 5 years since VE day". This was followed in 1973 by Not in Vain, published by the University of Toronto Press
, a collection of photographs taken partly during the war, and partly 25 years later when he returned to the same locations in France, Belgium and Holland.
During the 1970s he worked as a freelance photographer, specialising in fashion, food and work in the advertising industry. He also had a long professional association with the National Ballet of Canada
.
In 1990, he collaborated with Desmond Morton
to publish a book detailing the history of the Royal Canadian Military Institute
.
His nephew Richard Williams is a noted Canadian animator
.
He died on June 26, 2000, in Gibsons, British Columbia
, Canada.
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit
Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit
The Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit was a Canadian Army unit founded in 1941 in order to document military operations during World War II. It was the last unit of its kind to be founded by the Allied armies...
, he participated in the Normandy Landings, photographing and recording the liberation of France, Belgium and Holland, and finally documenting the occupation of Germany. After the war he had a successful career as a professional photographer, and published a number of books including Not in Vain, a collection of photographs showing the changes which had taken place in Europe since the end of the war.
Early life
Bell was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, on July 30, 1914. He was the oldest of five children born to carpenter Charles Bell (1881–c. 1958) and Edith Bell, both immigrants from Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England. They lived at 1211 Dufferin St, Toronto.
World War II
At the beginning of the war Bell was posted to Ottowa as a PR photographer. Later, he would go on to document Canada's participation in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
while serving as a lieutenant in the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit
Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit
The Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit was a Canadian Army unit founded in 1941 in order to document military operations during World War II. It was the last unit of its kind to be founded by the Allied armies...
.
Like his better known contemporary Robert Capa
Robert Capa
Robert Capa was a Hungarian combat photographer and photojournalist who covered five different wars: the Spanish Civil War, the Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II across Europe, the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and the First Indochina War...
, Bell participated in the Normandy Landings, disembarking at Juno Beach
Juno Beach
Juno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
on June 6, 1944 with The Highland Light Infantry of Canada (now known as the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada). Many of his photographs were taken in color - a first for the Canadian Army - though these did not become public until around twenty years later. They are the only surviving color photographs of the Normandy Landings.
Members of the CFPU were often in the front line, and sometimes even ahead of it. During the liberation of Dieppe in 1944, as the Manitoba Dragoons awaited orders to advance, members of the CFPU including Ken Bell and Brian O'Regan were the first Allied servicemen to enter the town.
Bell's war photographs – taken with a Rolleiflex
Rolleiflex
Rolleiflex is the name of a long-running and diverse line of high-end cameras originally made by the German company Franke & Heidecke, and later Rollei-Werk. The "Rolleiflex" name is most commonly used to refer to Rollei's premier line of medium format twin lens reflex cameras...
camera – are housed by the Library and Archives of Canada
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. Many of the original negatives of his photographs are held by the Canadian Forces Photo Unit and the City of Toronto Archives
City of Toronto Archives
The City of Toronto Archives is the municipal archives for the City of Toronto. It holds records created by the City of Toronto government and its predecessor municipalities from 1792 to the present day, as well as non-government records created by private groups and individuals...
.
Post-war career
After the war Bell had a successful career as a professional photographer, publishing a number of collections of photographs taken during and after the war.In 1953 he published Curtain Call, a collection of photographs in which he "tried to show the changes brought by man and nature in the 5 years since VE day". This was followed in 1973 by Not in Vain, published by the University of Toronto Press
University of Toronto Press
University of Toronto Press is Canada's leading scholarly publisher and one of the largest university presses in North America. Founded in 1901, UTP has published over 6,500 books, with well over 3,500 of these still in print....
, a collection of photographs taken partly during the war, and partly 25 years later when he returned to the same locations in France, Belgium and Holland.
During the 1970s he worked as a freelance photographer, specialising in fashion, food and work in the advertising industry. He also had a long professional association with the National Ballet of Canada
National Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
.
In 1990, he collaborated with Desmond Morton
Desmond Morton (historian)
Desmond Dillon Paul Morton, OC, FRSC, CD is a Canadian historian who specializes in the history of the Canadian military, as well as the history of Canadian political and industrial relations....
to publish a book detailing the history of the Royal Canadian Military Institute
Royal Canadian Military Institute
The Royal Canadian Military Institute , located in Toronto, Ontario, is Canada's premier independent institute for the study of military strategy, arts, military science and literature....
.
Family life
Bell married twice. His first marriage was to Molly, with whom he adopted two daughters, Sue and Karen. After Molly's death he married a nurse, Mary Lee.His nephew Richard Williams is a noted Canadian animator
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
.
He died on June 26, 2000, in Gibsons, British Columbia
Gibsons, British Columbia
Gibsons is a coastal community of 4,200 located in southwestern British Columbia, Canada on the Strait of Georgia. It is the main marine gateway to the Sunshine Coast....
, Canada.
Awards
He was twice awarded the Photographer of the Year award by the society of Professional Photographers of Canada, in 1965 and 1966. In 1986 he received the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators Lifetime Achievement Award.Published works
- Curtain Call, Intaglio Gravure Limited 1953
- Not in Vain, University of Toronto Press, 1973, ASIN: B001PQT32Y
- 100 years: The Royal Canadian Regiment, 1883-1983, Collier Macmillan Canada, 1983 ASIN: B000KFWQ16
- The Way We Were, University of Toronto Press, 1988
- Royal Canadian Military Institute: 100 Years 1890-1990, Morton and Bell, 1990.
External links
- Not in Vain at Amazon.com Retrieved August 9, 2010
- "Ken Bell" at Encyclopædia Britannica Retrieved August 9, 2010
- Canadian National Library and Archives Retrieved August 9, 2010
- List of former recipients of the Professional Photographers of Canada Photographer of the Year award Retrieved August 9, 2010
- www.Junobeach.org Retrieved September 2011