Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Biography of Corporal Lloyd Jack Hall (1918–1999)

Early Life

Lloyd Jack Hall was born on 24 March 1918 in Quorn, South Australia, the son of Herbert Hall and Susan May French. He grew up in Quorn, a small Flinders Ranges community, and worked as a labourer before the outbreak of World War II.

Military Service

Early Enlistment

Lloyd first enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 8 December 1940 at Quorn, serving with the 9th/23rd Light Horse Regiment. On 14 May 1941, he volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at Wayville, South Australia, pledging to serve overseas. He was assigned the service number SX12766.

Service in the Middle East

Lloyd embarked from Australia on 18 September 1941, joining the 2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion in the Middle East. He trained and served in garrison duties before being returned to Australia in late 1942.

New Guinea Campaign

In August 1943, he embarked from Cairns and landed at Milne Bay, New Guinea.

On 9 September 1943, during the Lae campaign, Lloyd was wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to his left hand. He was treated at field ambulances, casualty clearing stations, and the 2/7th Australian General Hospital before recovering and rejoining his unit.

Training & Special Duties

In late 1944, Lloyd completed the First Australian Army Bread Baking Wing Course, where he qualified with distinction, earning praise as a quiet, reliable, and hard-working soldier capable of producing bread under field conditions. This training added to his value as both a front-line and support soldier.

Borneo Campaign

In May 1945, Lloyd sailed to Morotai and onward to Labuan and Brunei Bay, Borneo, as part of the final operations of the 2/43rd Battalion. He was promoted to Acting Corporal in October 1945 and later confirmed in the rank. His service included occupation duties after Japan's surrender.

Demobilisation

After nearly five years of continuous service (1,730 days, including 1,008 overseas), Lloyd returned to South Australia. He was discharged on 7 February 1946 at Hampstead, SA, receiving War Badge No. 324978. His record noted him as a soldier of good conduct and reliability.

Personal Life

After returning from war, Lloyd married Thelma Lorraine Gum on 13 September 1947 at the Willowie Methodist Church. Thelma was born on 18 July 1929, the daughter of Bertram Gordon Gum.

Together, Lloyd and Thelma raised a family, being parents to Roslyn, Wanda, Robert, Sandra, and Greg.

Later Years and Passing

Lloyd Jack Hall passed away on 30 April 1999 in Quorn, South Australia, at the age of 81. He was buried in the Quorn Town Cemetery (Plot 33B).

His beloved wife Thelma survived him by ten years, passing on 20 May 2009, aged 79. She rests beside him at Quorn Cemetery.

Their headstone inscription reads:

"In Loving Memory of Lloyd Jack Hall, aged 81 years, loving husband of Thelma. Loved father of Roslyn, Wanda, Robert, Sandra & Greg (dec). Rest in Peace."

Legacy

Corporal Lloyd Jack Hall's life reflects the journey of many young Australians of his generation: a rural upbringing, wartime service in distant theatres, and a return home to build a family and contribute to community life. His service in the Middle East, New Guinea, and Borneo stands as a testament to his endurance, courage, and reliability as both a soldier and a man.

Biography by Trevor Pyatt - 17/08/2025