W. D. M. Bell
W. D. M. Bell | |
|---|---|
Bell's photograph for his pilot's license, 1915 | |
| Born | Walter Dalrymple Maitland Bell 8 September 1880 Clifton Hall near Edinburgh |
| Died | 30 June 1954 (aged 73) Corriemoillie, Garve, Ross-shire |
| Pen name | Karamojo Bell |
| Occupation | big game hunter, adventurer, soldier, and aviator |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom |
| Genre | autobiography, travel, adventure |
Walter Dalrymple Maitland Bell (8 September 1880 – 30 June 1954), known as Karamojo Bell after the Karamoja sub-region in Uganda, which he travelled extensively, was a Scottish adventurer, big game hunter in East Africa, soldier, decorated fighter pilot, sailor, writer, and painter.
Famous as one of the most successful ivory hunters of his time, Bell was an advocate of accurate shot placement with smaller calibre rifles, over the heavy large-bore rifles his contemporaries used for big African game.
He improved his hunting skills by the dissection and study of the skulls of elephants he shot. He perfected a technique of shooting elephants from the extremely difficult position, diagonally behind the target; this became known as the 'Bell Shot'.
Although chiefly known for his exploits in Africa, Bell also travelled to North America and New Zealand, sailed windjammers, saw service in South Africa during the Boer War, and flew in the Royal Flying Corps in East Africa, Greece, and France during the First World War.