Arthur Charles Hall VC (1896 - 1978)

Ancestors

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Honours and awards 2 Sources 3 See also

Biography

i

Arthur Charles Hall was born on 11th August 1896 in Granville, New South Wales (Australia) and christened in the Church of England (now Anglican Church). He was the older son of Charles Hall and Emma Jane King. ^[1]

After completing his formal education, he worked with his father as a station hand on the family property, Glenelg, near Nyngan, and served two years in the compulsory cadet scheme.

On 3rd April 1916 at nearby Dubbo, aged nineteen years, Arthur enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, his young nation's all-volunteer expeditionary force for the (First World) War. He was described as 5 feet 10½ inches (179 centimetres) tall and weighing 140 pounds (63.5 kilograms). ^[2] He embarked with reinforcements for the 54th Infantry Battalion aboard HMAT Ceramic A40 on 7th October at Sydney and disembarked at Plymouth on 21st November 1916. ^[3]

He proceeded to France, and the Western Front, on 21st December 1916 and was promoted to Acting Corporal on Christmas Eve. Arthur received shrapnel wounds to his right buttock on 30th March 1917 and was admitted to 9th Australian Casualty Clearing Station. He was transferred to 12th Australian General Hospital, at Rouen, on 2nd April and to No 2 Convalescent Depot seven days later. He rejoined his battalion on 21st April. His promotion to Corporal was made substantive on 4th October 1917. On 18th January 1918, Arthur wa admitted to 1st New Zealand Field Ambulance and transferred later that day to 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. From there he was transferred to No.31 Ambulance Train and then to 14th Australian General Hospital, at Wimereux, on 20th January 1918. Six days later he was evacuated to England with trench fever and admitted to Temporary Hospital, Exeter. He was discharged from hospital to furlough on 14th March 1918 and then reported to No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny to 28th March 1918. He returned to France on 22nd May and rejoined his battalion on 2nd June.

Arthur was detached to GHQ Raiding School on 16th July, rejoining the battalion on 1st August.

Victoria Cross

'For most conspicuous bravery, brillant leadership, and devotion to duty during the operations at Peronne on 1st and 2nd September 1918, Arthur was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). ^[4] The citation continued to read, "During the attack on the 1st September a machine gun post was checking the advance. Single handed he rushed the position, shot four of the occupants, and captured nine others, and two machine guns. Then crossing the objective with a small party, he afforded excellent covering support to the remainder of the company. Continuously in advance of the main party, he located enemy posts of resistance and personally led parties to the assault. In this way he captured many small parties of prisoners and machine guns. On the morning of the 2nd September, during a heavy barrage, he carried to safety a comrade who had been dangerously wounded and was urgently in need of medical attention, and immediately returned to his post. The energy and personal courage of this gallant non-commissioned officer contributed largely to the success of the operations, throughout which he showed utter disregard of danger and inspired confidence in all." ^[5]

He was transferred to the 56th Infantry Battalion on 11th November 1918 – Armistice Day. Another brief leave was enjoyed in England from 29th December to 8th January 1919. Arthur was promoted to Temporary Sergeant on 6th March 1919.

He embarked aboard HMAT Devanha on 8th May for his return to Australia, disembarked in Sydney on 26th June and was discharged from military duties on 83rd August 1919. ^[2]

He returned to work with his Dad, by then living on Buckeroo, Coolabah, north-west of Dubbo.

Arthur married Catherine Harris, daughter of Henry and Helen Harris, on 26th April 1927 in the Union Church, Sandy Creek Road, Dapper, 320 kilometres south-east of Coolabah, between Dubbo and Dunedoo. ^[6]

The Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative published a detailed report of the wedding and accompanying reception on Monday, 2nd May: ^[7]

"WEDDING REPORT. HALL—HARRIS. The wedding of Catherine Jessie, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harris, of Glin, Lahey's Creek, to Arthur Charles, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hall, of Buckeroo, Coolabah, was celebrated on April 26 by the Rev. Mr. Caldwell at the Union Church, Dapper. The bride, who was given away by her father wore georgette and silver lace over satin. The cut tulle veil was held in place by a wreath of orange blossoms, and she carried a bouquet of orchids and chrysanthemums. The bridesmaids were Miss Joyce Harris and Miss Mary Hall, who wore jumper suits of blue georgette and silver and apricot and silver respectively, with black hats, and carried autumn tinted bouquets. Mr. Douglas Ross Edwards was best man and Mr. Harry Hall groomsman. The bride's parents received their guests at Glin. Mrs. Harris wore a gown of resida green georgette and black hat and carried a bouquet of pink roses. Mrs. Hall, the bridegroom's mother, was gowned in black moracain relieved with blue and black hat, and carried a bouquet of crimson dahlias. The bride travelled in a mauve crepe de chene jumper suit and cream Bangkok hat."

On 6th January 1942 he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Commonwealth Military Force (Militia) for service within Australia during the Second World War. He was posted to 7th Garrison Battalion. He was discharged from service on 16th November 1943. ^[8]

Aged 81 years, Arthur passed away on 25th February 1978 in Nyngan, New South Wales ^[9] and is buried in the St Matthew's Church of England (now known as West Bogan Anglican) Cemetery, in nearby Coolabah. ^[10] He was survived by his wife, who passed in 1986. It is not presently known whether Arthur and Catherine had children.

Honours and awards

Arthur was deservedly the following decorations and medals, in order of precedence:

• Victoria Cross
• British War Medal
• Victory Medal
• War Medal 1939-1945
• Australian Service Medal 1939-1945
• King George VI Coronation Medal
• Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
• Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal

Arthur Charles Hall VC medal set

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #21837/1896
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Australian War Memorial nominal roll: 2631 Corporal Arthur Charles Hall, 56th Infantry Battalion; accessed 6 Feb 2023
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial embarkation roll #23/71/4
4. ↑ gazetted in London 14 Dec 1918
5. ↑ Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 61, 23 May 1919
6. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #9890/1927; registered at Dunedoo
7. ↑ Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 2 May 1927, Page 23
8. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: N387101 Lieutenant Arthur Charles Hall; accessed 6 Feb 2023
9. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #5658/1978
10. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 23 December 2020), memorial page for Lovina Lord Hollembeak (9 Nov 1766–6 Nov 1842), Find A Grave: Memorial #100335368, citing Spring Cemetery, Springboro, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by MrsJB (contributor 47730809)

See also

• Hall, George. 'Hall, Arthur Charles (1896–1978)'. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 9, (MUP), 1983.
• Australian War Memorial: Lieutenant Arthur Charles Hall; accessed 6 Feb 2023.
• WWI Service | The AIF Project.