A FORMER Oxford student who died in the Battle of the Somme during the First World War received the Victoria Cross posthumously for bravery.

Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell crossed No-Man’s Land to destroy a German machine gun despite coming under heavy fire from the enemy.

The former trainee teacher at Westminster College at North Hinksey survived, but died five days later performing a similar act of gallantry.

Oxford Brookes University, of which the former Westminster College is now part, is planning a remembrance service in September to commemorate Lieutenant Simpson Bell and fellow alumni who died in the 1916 battle.

Donald Simpson Bell – known as Don or Donny – was born on December 3, 1890, one of seven children from Harrogate, Yorkshire.

After leaving Harrogate Grammar School in 1908, he took a teacher training course at Westminster College.

He served as captain of athletics and a first team player for cricket, football and hockey as well as competing at rugby and swimming for the college.

He also became a professional footballer, playing for Bradford Park Avenue.

Aged 24, he enlisted in the Army in November, 1914 – the first professional footballer to do so – and was attached to the 9th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment.

Initially a private, he was promoted to become a commissioned officer in 1915.

His first act of gallantry came on July 5, 1916 when, on his own initiative and under heavy fire, he ran out to destroy a German machine gun.

Describing his “most conspicuous bravery”, the London Gazette reported: “This very brave act saved many lives and ensured the success of the attack.

“Five days later, this gallant officer lost his life performing a very similar act of bravery.”

He died during an operation by British troops to capture the town of Contalmaison from the Germans.

An account of the battle in A Breed Apart, a book by Richard Leake, read: “Bell, who had been sent by the Commanding Officer of the 9th Battalion to reinforce the 8th Battalion, attacked the enemy with extreme gallantry and drove them back suffering inevitable casualties.

“Among them was Bell himself, who was killed.

“This was a similar act to the one he performed five days earlier at Horseshoe Trench and again his gallantry and self-sacrifice turned a critical situation into a success.”

Bell is the only English professional footballer to have been awarded the Victoria Cross.

He was 25 and buried where he fell.

There is a stained-glass window in his memory in the chapel at the former Westminster College, now Oxford Brookes University’s Harcourt Hill Campus.

Details of the service will be announced later.