Archive for August, 2012
Thomas’ Obituary
Lieutenant Thomas Hall, Highland Light Infantry
As I think I said before, the war records of almost all soldiers in the British army during World War I were destroyed during World War II by German bombing. Aside from the censuses and a few other records, I had little clues about his life as a soldier. Then my cousin Jane send me Thomas’ obituary from the Perthshire Constitutional and Journal, dated November 7, 1917.
- Lieutenant and Quartermaster Thomas Hal, of the 1st Garretson Battalion Highland Light Infantry, died at Yorkhill War Hospital after a short illness.
- He was a native of Perth, and an old St. Ninian’s Choir boy.
- He joined the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry as a private, rising to the rank of Regimental-Quartermaster-Sergeant after 14 years service.
- He did important work in the mobilizing of the battalion when it went out to the South African War and was with them though all the campaign.
- He had also seen active service in Egypt, India, and Gallipoli, was invalided home, and on recovery obtained his commission as Lieutenant and Quartermaster in January 1916. He was sent to Nigg and then to Fort George
- Greatly esteemed by his Colonel and fellow-officers as a good soldier. He performed his responsible duties in a most efficient manner.
- Lieutenant Hall was buried with military honors, the body being conveyed from the hospital to St. Enoch’s Station on a gun carriage drawn by six horses, accompanied by his brother and a party of officers, non-commissioned, and men of his regiment.
- It was taken to Kilmarnock by rail, and at the cemetery an appropriate service was conducted by the Reverent W. J. Smith, M.A. Three volleys were fired over the grave while a pipe-major sounded the “Last Post.”
- He leaves a widow, having only been married slightly over a year. Much sympathy is felt for his relatives, who were well-known in Perth.
Thomas’ Death Record
Yorkhill Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland
Thomas Hall died at the age of 51 on October 21, 1917, in Yorkhill War Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland. He was a Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the 1st Battalion Highland Infantry and was married to Sarah Purdie Barnes. He died of Carcinoma of the Gullet (esophagus) and had been ill for three months. His father was William Hal,l an Army Pensioner who was deceased, and his mother was Lydia Selina Hall, née Ramsbottom, who was also deceased. His wife Sarah, of 15 James Little Street in Kilmarnock, provided the information for the death certificate and was present at the time of death. Thomas is buried in Kilmarnock Cemetery in Ayrshire County, Scotland.
Kilmarnock Cemetery, Ayrshire County, Scotlandd
Thomas Hall
Cemetery: Kilmarnock Cemetery
Country: Scotland
Area: Ayrshire
Rank: Lieutenant (Quartermaster)
Official Number:
Unit: Highland Light Infantry
Force: Army
Nationality: British
Details: Died of sickness 21st October 1917. Age 51.
Son of William and Lydia Celina Hall;
husband of Sarah Purdie Hall of 22 Hauraki Rd. Takapuna Auckland New Zealand.
Born at Perth.
J.Newsection.379.
Thomas’ Last Military Assignment
As I said earlier, service records for British soldiers in World War I, including the one for Thomas Hall, were destroyed by fire during the German bombing of Britain during World War II. So I have to squeeze as much information out of Thomas’ marriage record as I can. He served in the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry (HLI). I found a good record of the stations for the Highland Light Infantry on the Long, Long Trail Website. There were different categories of Battalions in the HLI. From other sources, I discovered that a Garrison Battalion was composed of men to old or not fit for regular war service. Some Garrison Batallions did serve overseas, but others served at home.
The only component of the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry that fit with Thomas in time and date was the 1st (Reserve) Garrison Battalion, which was formed at Fort George around May 1916 and moved to Maryhill in January 1918. Fort George is a large 18th century fortress near Ardersier, to the north-east of Inverness in the Highland council area of Scotland. The fortress has never been attacked and has remained in continuous use as a garrison.
William Hall in India and In Scotland 