Albert Hall

Corporal Albert Hall Worksop Guardian 7 January 1916 To the long list of men who have already laid down their lives for their country must be added that of Corporal Albert Hall, 11612, of the 1st Notts and Derby Regiment. Corporal Hall was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Hall, 14 Devonshire Street, Worksop and would be 23 years of age next birthday. His father, Mr Thos. Hall is an old and respected employee of the Shireoaks Colliery Co. and has worked at the Shireoaks pit for the long period of 47 years. The deceased worked at Creswell Colliery prior to enlisting, which he did before the war. He was in India before hostilities commenced, and was drafted to France soon afterwards. Twelve months ago he was wounded in four places, stripped naked by the Germans and left for dead. He was then found by the British Field Ambulance and bought in, and was invalided home. After recovering he rejoined his Regiment and was looking forward to paying a surprise visit when he met with the wound that caused his death. The intimation from the war office, simply states that he died of wounds received in action on December 22nd, but more information is given in a letter addressed to Mr Hall by Sergt. F Scraton, Headquarters Company, 1st Sherwood Foresters. Writing on January 1st he says:- “Dear Mr Hall, - It gives me great pain to have to impart, the sad news that your son, Albert is dead. He got a bullet in the back which came out against the heart as we were going in the trenches the last time. It did not kill him straight away and I was talking to him, trying to comfort him until the ambulance men came to take him away to hospital, where he died a few hours later. I am very sorry to lose him as he was a great chum of mine, and was liked and respected by all who knew him. I can tell you he is sadly missed here. He was coming home on leave in a day or so, and I suppose he had written and told you all about it. I am sending you a P.O. for 8s., which he gave me to send to you. Will you please know if you get it safely. I did not get anything else belonging to him as I thought he would live. It came as a great surprise to me when I heard that he had died. I will conclude, sympathising with you at the loss of one so dear, Your sincerely, F Scraton, Sergeant.” Two other sons of Mr Hall’s are serving their country, one, Bertie in the Royal Field Artillery and Wilfred with the Notts and Derbys. The former worked at Shireoaks Colliery prior to enlisting and is married with three children, and Wilfred, who is a joiner, worked at Steetley. Corporal Hall had many friends in Worksop and his parents and relatives will have the sympathy of all in their great sorrow.

Commemorated on the Sailly Sur-La-Lys Canadian Cemetery, France. Research by Colin Dannatt