James Henry Hall
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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James Henry was the only son of James and Clara Emma Hall (née Watts). His father James Hall was born in Preston, Lancashire, in 1876 and his mother Clara Emma Hall in Nottingham in about 1877. They were married in 1896 (O/N/D Nottingham) and had four children who were all born in Nottingham: Clara b. 1898, James Henry b. 1899 (O/N/D Nottingham), Elizabeth b. 1905 and Marjorie b. 1911 (O/N/D Nottingham). In 1901 James (25), a wood carver at a cabinet works, and Clara (24) were living on Woodland Grove, Colwick, Nottingham, with their two children Clara (2) and James (1). Also in the household was Clara's niece, Cissie Watts (11). By 1911 they were living at 45 Annesley Terrace, Colwick, with their three children, Clara, James and Elizabeth (5). Their third daughter, Marjorie was born later that year. James' mother completed a form for the Army in June 1919 listing her son's surviving blood relatives. She, her husband and their three daughters, Clara (21), Elizabeth (14) and Marjorie (7), were living at 146 Haydn Road, Sherwood, Nottingham. The later CWGC record also gives James and Clara's address as 146 Haydn Road.
Two separate sets of army service records ('burnt records') survive. From these it appears that James attested on 4 October 1917, when he was probably 17 years old, and was transferred to the Army Reserve. There are then documents which show that he was mobilized and medically examined in Hull on 21 January 1918, age 17 years 11 months, which does not match his age from the registration of his birth in 1899 (O/N/D). His occupation was given as news boy (a later document, dock labourer), address as Mansion, Hull, and his next of kin as his sister Clara Hall (surname amended to Hutchinson) of 224 Victoria Street South, Grimsby. The alternative set of documents names his next of kin as his sister Mary (sic) Hall, 45 Annesley Terrace, Colwick. Both sets of documents show that he was posted to the 3rd Bn West Riding Regiment than transferred to the 1st Line North Cyclists Bn (63802) on 26 January and posted to North Shields and then Alnwick where at both establishments he was on a charge; the second, and more serious, at Alnwick of being absent without leave from the evening of 1 July 1918 until apprehended by the Police in Newcastle on the night of 7 July; he was sentenced to 3 days Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeited 6 days pay. He was posted to BEF France and embarked Folkestone on 10 August 1918 disembarking Boulgone the same day. He was posted to Etaples 11 August and transferred to the 6th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. However, on 16 August he was transferred again, this time to the West Riding Regiment (34855), and posted to the 2/4th Battalion. James was initially reported missing on 29 September 1918, the day that the village of Masnieres near Marcoing, captured in November 1917, was retaken by the 62nd West Riding Division. His body was later recovered and he was presumed to have been either killed in action or died of wounds on 29 September. James was buried in Masnieres British Cemetery Marcoing, France (grave ref. i.A.17). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - Masnieres British Cemetery (extract): 'Masnieres was captured by the 29th Division on the 20th November 1917, the first day of the Battle of Cambrai. On the 30th November and the 1st December, Masnieres was held by the same Division against repeated attacks, but it was evacuated, under orders, on the night of the 1st-2nd. It was retaken on the 29th September 1918, by the 62nd (West Riding) Division. Masnieres British Cemetery was made by the 3rd Division Burial Officer in October 1918. There are now 167, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site ... All fell in September-October 1918.'
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'God be with you until we meet again' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His mother Clara Hall was his sole legatee. James' possessions were returned to his mother in August 1919 and comprised: watch in case, piece of chain, razor, photo card case, purse, birth certificate, German coins, disc and strap.
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