Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Narelle Howe, Tasmania in the Great War
 
Pte John Thomas HALL.  Son of James & Isabella Hall (nee Kaine) Pine Road Penguin. John grew up at Highthorpe (PInewood), working on the family farm "Sunrise", which had been settled by his grandfather Joseph Hall in 1878. He served with local 91st Infantry Battalion for 6 months prior to enlisting for service on the 26th of October 1915 with the 12th Battalion, 15th reinforcements, A company at Ross camp, number 4811. He trained at Claremont camp between the 26th October 1915 and the 9th of January 1916. He then moved to the Broadmeadows camp in Victoria to continue training and embarked from Melbourne for Alexandria on the HMAT A70 Ballarat, on the 19th of February 1916. He then embarked for England on the H.M.T Arcadian on the 29th July 1916, for training at Perham Downs Training camp on the Salisbury Plain until joining his unit through the French port town of Etaples. John was taken on strength to serve in the field on the 8th of September 1916. He continued serving with the 12th Battalion at Ypres Hill 60, Guedecourt, Eaucourt L'Abbaye, Baupame, Lourveral on the Hindenburg Line, Polygon Wood and Passchendale. His final battle was the Battle of Passchendale where he was killed on the Broodseinde Ridge on the 6th of October 1917.

From Penguin and South Riana Cemeteries -
Stories From The Graves

Further from Narelle Howe. My 2x great uncle Pte John Thomas Hall -4811- born at Highthorpe, Pine Road, Penguin on the 25th of June 1895, served with the 12th Battalion and died at Passchendale, Belgium on the 6th of October 1917. He is one of the thousands still missing on the Western Front and is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Belgium.

“ Hall – In sad and loving memory of our dear son, Private J.T. Hall, killed in action October 6, 1917.
We often think of days gone by, When we were all together; A shadow o’er our life is cast, Our dear son gone for ever. Days of sadness still comes o’er us, Silent tears often flow, For memory keeps his dear face before us, Though he died two years ago, Killed in action, say the cables; That is all the tale they tell Of the lad we loved so well. How his life was spent we know not, What his last word, look or thought; Only that he did his duty – Died as bravely as he fought. – Insterted by his loving mother and father, Ashwater.”
“ Hall – In fond and loving remembrance of our loving brother. Private J.T. Hall, who was killed in France, October 6, 1917.

It is just two years ago today We all remember well, When the cruel sad news reached our home, Of the one we loved so well. No more your sweet kind face we’ll see About the dear old home; No more we’ll look for your coming home, Now cruel war is o’er. When the flags are over the roadway, And the boys are coming home; o God, have pity on the sorrowing ones, Whose boys can never come home. – Inserted by his loving brothers and sisters, Ashwater.”
Lest We Forget.