HALLY, John Archibald
| Service Number: | VX55205 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 May 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 8 July 1908 |
| Home Town: | Ross Creek, Golden Plains, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Accidental - Wounds received through the premature denonation of a genade during grenade practice, resulting in leg amputation and gangrene, Ceylon, 5 July 1942, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
Colombo (Kanatte) General Cemetery, Sri Lanka |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, VX55205 | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 May 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX55205, 2nd/7th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Anthony Vine
Private John (Jack) Archibald Hally VX55205 2/7th Battalion 2/AIF.
Jack Hally was born in Ballarat in July 1908 the son of Rudolph and Agnes Hally. Jack had four sisters and one brother as well as a half brother and half sister from his father’s first marriage. His half brother William Robert Hally had served in the 31st Battalion and in the 5th Machine Gun Battalion during the Great War. Jack was a labourer when he enlisted in the 2/AIF in May 1941.
Jack embarked for the Middle East in September 1941 as a reinforcement for the 2/7th Battalion 2/AIF, which was serving on garrison duties in Palestine.
With the entry of Japan into the war the battalion was recalled to Australia, however Winsten Churchill controversially had the 6th Division diverted to Ceylon, against the wishes of the Australian Government.
In June 1942 the battalion was undertraining at Akuressa in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, when a series of accidents occurred during grenade training. The second and more serious would claim the life of Privates Fred Dickson and Private Bill Underwood and seriously wound Jack Hally.
The Battalion War Diary records:
“As a sequel to yesterday’s unfortunate episode with the grenade, today provided a whole series of such accidents one of which had very tragic results. After successful practice by D Coy in the morning C. Coy took over the range for the afternoon. During firing of 68 type grenades, one exploded, causing fatal wounds to Ptes F.J. Dickson and W.F. Underwood whilst 5 others were wounded, two rather seriously.”
The casualties included Private Jack Hally who received severe lacerations to his right thigh and left leg as well as compound fractures of his left leg. Gangrene set in on his left leg and despite it being amputated above the knee, Jack passed away in the 12th Australian General Hospital on the 5th of July 1942. Private Morrison suffered severe abdominal injuries in the same incident, but he would ultimately recover.
Jack was buried the following day in Colombo with members of his platoon providing a firing party.
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