HALL, William James
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hughenden, Queensland, Australia, 8 May 1890 |
| Home Town: | Hughenden, Flinders, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Maryborough, Queensland, Australia, 8 November 1945, aged 55 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Maryborough Cemetery, Fraser Coast, Queensland |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 52nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Clan McGillivray, Brisbane | |
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Clan McGillivray embarkation_ship_number: A46 public_note: '' | |
| 24 May 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Dernancourt/Ancre | |
| 24 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Villers-Bretonneux | |
| 16 May 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 17 Sep 1918: | Honoured Military Cross, Villers-Bretonneux | |
| 1 Jan 1919: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 50th Infantry Battalion, Rank of Temporary Captain | |
| 22 Mar 1919: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 50th Infantry Battalion, Relinquished rank of Temporary Captain, to be Lieutenant. | |
| 20 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 50th Infantry Battalion |
Military Cross Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a night counter attack this officer led his platoon with dash and skill against successive strong points, and after his company commander became a casualty he controlled the direction of the company to the final objective. By his bold leading the company was successfully established and linked up with the flank battalion of the adjoining brigade. He showed fine judgement in consolidating and maintaining the position until relieved.
Submitted 20 April 2016 by Nathan Rohrlach
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William James Hall was 28 years of age when he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry at Villers Bretonneux on Anzac Day, 1918.
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a night counter attack this officer led his platoon with dash and skill against successive strong points, and after his company commander became a casualty, he controlled the direction of the company to the final objective. By his bold leading the company was successfully established and linked up with the flank battalion of the adjoining brigade. He showed fine judgment in consolidating and maintaining the position until relieved.'
His younger brother 730A Private Robert (Blue) Leslie Hall, 31st Battalion, of Hughenden, Queensland had tried to enlist but was rejected on the grounds of defective eyesight.
He successfully enlisted in February 1917, and served with the 31st Battalion. Leslie Hall was mortally wounded on 19 May 1918 and was taken to the 5th Australian Field Ambulance. He succumbed to his wounds two days later, age 18.
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