John Richard (Jack) Hall

John Richard (Jack) Hall

Personal Information
Date of Birth	4 Jan 1895
Place of Birth	Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Age at Enlistment	19 years, 8 months
Description	5'6¼" (1.m) tall ; 137lbs 62.142 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Butcher
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	NOK PO Gosnells, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs T Hall
Military Information
Reg Number	66
Date of Enlistment	10 Sep 1914
Rank	Pte
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, B Company, transferred to Australian Army Postal Corps
Date of Embarkation	22 Dec 1914 ‒ 3 Feb 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A40 Ceramic
Date of Return	4 Jun 1919 ‒ 16 Jun 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Bremen
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

As an original member of the 16th Battalion, John travelled with them to Melbourne where they spent time training at the Broadmeadows Camp, and sailed with them from Melbourne for Egypt. John's records include an entry that indicates that he was transferred to Malta on 6 Apr 1915, before his battalion left for Mudros Harbour on Lemnos. If this is correct then it would seem that he did not serve on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

On 24 May 1915, John was detached to the AIF Headquarters No 1 Section, location not recorded. Back in Egypt, on 14 Mar 1916 he was in Tel-el-Kebir when he was transferred to the Divisional Post Office in Serapeum, before being formally transferred on 21 Oct 1916 to the Australian Army Postal Corps.

John embarked on the Kinfauns Castle in Alexandria Harbour on 2 Jun 1916, and disembarked in Marseilles, France on 8 Jun 1916. On 1 Aug 1916 he was charged with Gambling and found guilty, he forfeited 3 day's pay. Subsequently he was formally transferred from the 4th Division HQ to the Australian Army Pay Corp on 21 Oct 1916. On 28 Mar 1917 he was attached to the 4th Division Supply Column before going on leave to England between 7 and 17 Aug 1917. He was later detached to a number of sub units, principally the 4th Motor Transport Company.

John enjoyed a second leave in England from 17 Sep 1918, and during his leave, at Ventnor on the Isle of Wright, on 26 Sep 1918 he married Stella Mary Channing, aged 24. On 7 Nov 1918 John was granted 75 days Special Leave, returning to duty in France on 27 Jan 1919. On 13 Mar 1919 John returned to England preparatory to shipping home to Australia. Arriving in Fremantle on 16 Jul 1919, he and his wife disembarked on the 18th.

Discharged by the 5th Military District on 30 Jul 1919.