"I had the privilege to meet Justin Bell in 2010 as part of my research into my book George Cross Heroes. He hosted a day explaining the role of a bomb disposal expert and I was hugely impressed by his professionalism and his calm approach to his job. I am delighted that this book has come out on Justin Bell's career and I commend it to one and all. It is a wonderful tribute to a very special and extraordinarily brave man."

Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC

“An honest and gritty memoir from one of the trade’s most renowned Ammunition Technicians. Troll was always outspoken, funny and passionate about the job, with a flair for training others. He is missed by everyone in the community. Such a tragic loss.”

AP, George Medal winner

"I spent 21 years in the US Navy as a bomb disposal specialist. Two of those years were spent on an exchange posting with the British EOD forces. Bomb disposal personnel are the epitome of the term, ‘quiet professionals’. Most bomb disposal stories are similar and always include a bit of dark humor and are rarely told outside the confines of the EOD family. But now we have Justin Bell’s stories, capturing his EOD humor. I never knew Justin. I wish I had."

Ken Falke, US Navy (retired) & author of Struggle Well, Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma

Justin ‘Troll’ Bell joined the British Army in the late 1980s and quickly qualified as an Ammunition Technician within the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. He completed over 20 years’ service as an Army Counter Terrorism Bomb Disposal Operator seeing service in three major conflicts.

He commanded EOD operations on High-Threat tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan; supporting over a decade of front line UK counter-terrorism activity including responding to the 2005 London bombings. He constituted part of the National Contingency Capability for dealing with weapons of mass destruction and undertook duties as part of the protection detail for the Royal Family.

Justin supported discrete Foreign and Commonwealth Office tasks to various countries as part of a wider defence diplomacy programme, and finished his service as a Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal Soldier responsible for the supervision and provision of multiple EOD teams in support of UK National Contingency Operations. During his service he received a bravery award for his EOD activities and was subsequently rewarded a second time on the Queen’s New Year Honours list on his retirement.

Identifying that the psychological well-being of EOD Operators was being largely ignored, he was instrumental in the implementation within EOD Units of the Trauma Risk Management programme originally instigated by the Royal Marines. He retired in 2011 to spend more time with his wife and children and pursue a career lecturing.