HALL, Arthur James
| Service Number: | 2262 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 November 1914, Oaklands, Marion, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Coromandel Valley, Onkaparinga, South Australia, 28 August 1890 |
| Home Town: | Coromandel Valley, Onkaparinga, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Le Hamel, Departement de la Somme Picardie France, 4 July 1918, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Coromandel Valley WW1 Memorial and Gardens |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Nov 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2262, 4th Field Ambulance, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Nov 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Oaklands, Marion, South Australia | |
| 8 Jul 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2262, 4th Field Ambulance, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2262, 4th Field Ambulance, Battle for Pozières | |
| 11 Sep 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2262, 4th Field Ambulance, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17 | |
| 11 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2262, 4th Field Ambulance, Bullecourt (First) | |
| 31 Jul 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2262, 4th Field Ambulance, Third Ypres | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 13th Infantry Battalion, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 2262, 13th Infantry Battalion |
Red Cross File 1240601E - Witnesses to the death of Arthur James HALL
3017 Pte F. DIBDEN, D Company, 13th Bn, 8 October 1918: 'There was only one Lieut. Hall and I saw him wounded about the middle of August. He was wounded in the head at Harbonnieres in front of Villers Bretonneux. I saw him taken out. There were six casualties from the same shell, two killed and four wounded. He was taken to the D/Station but I don't know what happened after that.'
4693 Pte T.B. COOPER, 13th Bn (patient, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England), 3 October 1918: 'I saw Mr. Hall sniped on the head while we were advancing at Hamel. I know no particulars where he was buried.'
7051 Lance Corporal N.R. O'BRIEN, D Company, 13th Bn, 29 September 1918: 'He was second in command of my Company. On the 4th July we were near Harbonniere [sic] holding the line. About 7 p.m. Mr. Hall with several others was standing close to a M.G. Position when it was hit by a whizz bang. I was there and saw it. Three were killed and four wounded. Mr. Hall was wounded in the side and head, and was taken to our D/Station. I heard that he died later.'
3669 Sergeant W.E. MERRETT, C Company, 13th Bn, 28 September 1918: 'I saw this Officer's Grave behind our front line at Vaire Wood near Hamel; a Cross was put up, made of two pieces of stick and pencilled particulars. The ground is in our hands. Grave in the open field. I did not see him killed.'
Submitted 25 May 2015
Biography
A 24 year old labourer on enlistment and former member of the Blackwood Rifle Club, Arthur was the son of Mr Mark and Mrs Elizabeth Hall, Coromandel Valley, South Australia.
Arthur enlisted at Oaklands Park in Adelaide's south.
He was assigned to the 2nd Reinforcements of the 4th Field Ambulance and duly embarked for oveseas service although he is not recorded on the Embarkation Roll nor explicitly listed with the 2nd Reinforcements
After consolidation in Egypt , Arthur embarked at Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 22 June 1915; taken on strength, 4th Field Ambulance, Anzac, 8 July 1915, where he servd until the evacuation, disembarking at Alexandria, 24 December 1915.
He was admitted to 1st Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, 15 January 1916 (broken nose); discharged to duty, 17 January 1916.
The 4th Brigade was absorbed into the 4th Division and spawned the 12th Brigade during the doubling of the AIF, but Arthur remained with the 4th Field Ambulance and in due course embarked at Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front, on 1 June 1916; disembarking in Marseilles, France, on 9 June 1916 before undertaking the slow but scenic rail journey to the Armentieres sector, known as "The Nursery".
However by mid July they were on their way south to the Somme and in late July the 4th Brigade went into action near Pozieres.
Following the second phase of fighting near Mouquet Farm, the 4th Brigade moved north to Belgium and Arthur was appointed Lance Corporal, 12 September 1916.
After winter near Flers / Guedecourt, the 4th Brigade was committed to the fighting at First Bullecourt in April 1917, and sustained fearful casualties.
Later that year the Brigade was committed to the Third Ypres campaign and in late September Arthur distinguished himself resulting in the award of the Military Medal. Shortly afterwards he was selected to attend Infantry Cadet Bn Course, England, commencing 7 December 1917.
Joined No 5 Officer Cadet Bn, Trinity College, Cambridge, 7 December 1917. He was Commissioned in the Infantry, 3 May 1918 and after a short stint in the 1st Eastern general Hospital Cambridge, 3-9 May 1918 he proceeded overseas to France on 11 June 1918; he retunred to the 4th Brigade and was posted to 13th Bn, in the field, 19 June 1918.
The 4th Division played a key part in the attack on Le Hamel on 4 July, during the course of which Arthur James Hall was killed in action.
Note on file, Lt T.B. WEBSTER, Adjutant, 13th Bn (undated): '2/Lieut. HALL was killed instantaneously on 4.7.18 by a bullet through the head and was buried between "C" Coy Headquarters and the front line trench. The appoximate location of the grave is P.21 A Sheet 62D N.E. & 62D S.E. VAIRE WOOD. 1/20,000.'
Awarded:
Military Medal
1914/15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Commemorative Plaque
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