Edgar Cullen (Garry) HALL

HALL, Edgar Cullen

Service Number: 5335
Enlisted: 9 October 1915
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: Tunnelling Companies
Born: Brisbane, Qld., 2 May 1893
Home Town: Silver Spur, Goondiwindi, Queensland
Schooling: The Armidale School, University of Queensland
Occupation: Engineering Student
Died: Died of wounds, Hellfire Corner, Menin Road, Ypres, Belgium, 19 September 1917, aged 24 years
Cemetery: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
XIX A 8, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Lijssenthoek, Flanders, Belgium
Memorials: Armidale School War Memorial Gates, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, University of Queensland WW1 Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

9 Oct 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Sapper, 5335, Reinforcements WW1
20 Sep 1916: Involvement Sapper, 5335, Mining Corps, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: ''
20 Sep 1916: Embarked Sapper, 5335, Mining Corps, HMAT Suffolk, Melbourne
30 Sep 1916: Involvement Sapper, 5335, Tunnelling Companies, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: ''
30 Sep 1916: Embarked Sapper, 5335, Tunnelling Companies, HMAT Suffolk, Melbourne
19 Sep 1917: Involvement Sergeant, 5335, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5335 awm_unit: 1st Australian Tunnelling Company awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-09-19

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Edgar and Rose Helen Hall, of Silverspur, Queensland.

Early in the week (says the "Border Post") word was received in Stanthorpe that Sergt. " Garry" Hall, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Hall, of Silverspur, bad been dangerously wouuded in France, and a couple of days later the sad intelligence of his death was wired through from Silver spur. Sergeant Hall, who was attached to the engineers and sappers, had been about nine months at the front, and wrote some of the most interest ing letters from France. He was admitted to the 17th Clearing Station in France on the 19th September, sufferng from gunshot wounds in the chest and thighs, and a later message gave the information that he died of wounds the same day. Sergeant Edgar Cullen Hall (popularly known as "Garry") was 24 years of age. He studied in his early years at the High School at Armidale and later took up engineering at the Queensland University. He left the University to do practical work in the field in North Queensland, and then returned to the University where he completed his course, he enlisted in the early stages of the war, but through a slight indisposition just as his regiment was going abroad, he was delayed in Australia for some time, and later was employed in training new units. Eventually he got to England and then to France, where he has been at the front for the period stated above. He was a brilliant boy, and his death, in addition to being a great blow to his parents and relatives, will be regretted by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. 

EDGAR CULLEN HALL (2.5.1893.— 19.9.1917)
Called Garry.
Born In Brisbane. He was the son of Edgar Hall of Stanthorpe, Qld. Lived at Silverspur via Inglewood, Qld.


At TAS 7 ½ years from June 1904 to Dec. 1911. Senior Prefect. Captain of the School 1910-11. Swimming, Secretary of the School Club, Library committee, Armidalian committee, proxime accessit to  Chemistry medal in the Junior exam 1910, Senior exam 1911, Dramatic Club, Assistant Curator of Museum, prominent in Scientific Society, Sergeant of Cadets. He was the only candidate for the Senior exam in 1911. After leaving school he went to St. John's College at Queensland University and was awarded a Diploma of Engineering with Credit. Then he held a position with the Queensland  Government.


Enlisted in November 1916 at Brisbane and left Sydney on the "Warialda” on 22.5.1916.
He disembarked sick at Fremantle and returned to Victoria where he was in charge of recruits at Seymour Camp. On 30.9.1916 he left on the "Suffolk" for Plymouth. He helped produce the "Suffolk  Slosher". He arrived at a camp on the Salisbury Plains, England on 2.12.1916 and left for France on 1.1.1917. He worked on the deep mines which were exploded at the battle of Messines. Served in  the Mining Corps A.I.F. attached to the Engineers, 1st Australian Tunnelling Corps and became a Sergeant.
Killed: - He was wounded fatally by a shell at Hell Fire Corner, on the Menin Road, 1 a.m. on 19.9.1917. He died at 10 p.m. the same day at the 17th Casualty Station at Ypres in Flanders, Belgium, aged 24.
Buried at Lyssenthoek Military Cemetery Poperinghe, Belgium.


Obituary:- "There have been few more distinguished boys come here. Even this (list of achievements) does not convey an idea quiet but strong wholesome influence for good that was exerted by him  in the School.” Sir William Birdwood wrote to his father on 17.3.1918 "Your son ... proved himself a fearless soldier.. did render gallant and good service on this occasion. Indeed his name was noted for a further recommendation for award in recognition of his good services with the company, and I feel confident he would have received this in due course had he been spared."

L'Envoi by E.C. Hall.
We, who sailed tranquilly, not very fast, on great waters
Wet with many queer ships, trod on a foreign shore,
Trafficked with the sons of Ham and talked with his daughters,
See now our course nearly run and this journey o'er.
Smooth have the oceans been, and mild our enjoyment,
Had all the sweets of Fortune and none of its scratches,
Found in potato races gentle employment,
Gambled (until we were stopped), and poker for matches.
Soon we must wheel, and form fours and remember these trifles
Soon we'll give battle (and are we not men in our heyday!)
Front the grim German with bombs and machine, guns and rifles,
Take a girl out to the show - and get drunk after pay day.
Let all come. We will fight, when we must, with the rest of them.
Learn how, when battle comes, every brave man is a brother,
Die, if we must for Australia, the Homeland, the best of them.
Live like clean Soldiers, - and always write home to our mother.
From the "Suffolk Slosher”, No.5, 25th Nov, 1916 (Troopers' Paper on
Transport No. A 23) (Sergt. E.C. Hall, "Publisher")

 

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