William Hall

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Blyth, Northumberland, England
Death	20 Sep 1917
Place of Death	near Zonnebeke, Belgium
Age at Enlistment	34 years, 10 months
Description	5' 6½" (1.69m) tall; weight 141 lbs (64kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair.
Occupation	mill hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	No.1 Mill. Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Sister Mrs Jennie Thompson
Military Information
Reg Number	5023
Date of Enlistment	8 Mar 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion,13th Reinforcement (D Company 14 Platoon) / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	18 Jul 1916 - 9 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A48 Seang Bee
Fate	Killed in Action 20 Sep 1917 Menin Road
Monument	Jarrahdale
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Had 5 years prior experience with the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers.

Twice previously reject for service with the AIF due to health issues - tonsillitis and catarrh.

War Service

Enlisted in Jarrahdale.

Joined the 28th Battalion on 4 Dec 1916.

On arrival in England he was sent to the 7th Training battalion at Rollestone, before proceeding to France aboard HMT Victoria from Folkestone on 16 Nov 1916.

After a fortnight with the 2nd Division's Base depot in Étaples, he joined the 28th Battalion on 4 Dec 1916 at St-Vaast-en-Chaussee, a small commune south of Vignacourt and about 10 km north west of Amiens. The battalion was enjoying a rare rest, well behind the front lines.

On 30 Apr 1917 Bill was seen by the 5th Australian Filed Ambulance, who in turn passed him to the 9th Casualty Clearing Station, before he was hospitalised at the 22 General Hospital in Dannes Camiers on the coast north of Étaples with pneumonia for 3 weeks.

Bill rejoined the battalion on 18 May 1917, but on 1 June he again needed assistance. Seen by the 5th Australian Field Ambulance, he was then passed to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station, before being hospitalised at the 9th General Hospital in Rouen.

On 21 Jun 1917 he was released to the No 11 Convalescent Depot. Recovered he was sent to the 2nd Division's Base Depot who then arranged for him to rejoin the 28th Battalion on 26 Aug 1917 who were again behind the lines training and preparing to participate in the battle known as Menin Road.

Menin Road was the first operation of what was to become known as the Third battle of Ypres. The Australians were tasked with capturing the German Line on Westhoek Ridge and faced pillboxes, strong points and enemy artillery. Although their targets were achieved and held against strong enemy counter attacks, they suffered 5,013 casualties, Bill amongst them.

An entry in his Red Cross file gives some details of his death:

"I saw him killed by a bullet through the head at Polygon Wood on 20th September during the advance. He fell in a shell hole alongside us, killed outright." Holden W.J. Pte 5606

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  Menin Gate Memorial photo L Reynolds 2015
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  Section of 28th Battalion panel photo L Reynolds 2015