BORN HULL 1884. SON OF JAMES WILLIAM HALL (1857-1940) AND MARY JANE KAVANAGH (1861-1906), OF CANNON STREET, HULL (1901) AND 41 CAROLINE PLACE, CHARLES STREET, HULL (1911 CENSUS) AND 24 POPLAR AVENUE, POPLAR STREET, HULL (ARMY RECORDS ADDRESS). ONE OF NINE CHILDREN, HE HAD FOUR BROTHERS AND FIVE SISTERS.
HE MARRIED ALICE SARGENT, AT ST PAUL’S CHURCH, HULL ON 14/08/1909. HIS WIFE ALICE (LATER CUDBERTSON (1888-1967), LIVED AT 1 TRINITY PLACE, FRANCIS STREET & 10 VIRGO TERRACE, WESTMORELAND STREET, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). HE WAS A ‘FORGE MAN’ AND FOUNDRY LABOURER BEFORE ENLISTING. THEY HAD THREE SONS – JAMES, BORN 12/05/1911; WILLIAM, BORN 29/12/1913, AND GEORGE, BORN 5/06/1915.
JAMES ENLISTED IN BEVERLEY ON 28/10/1914. HIS MEDICAL RECORD DESCRIBED HIM, AS BROWN EYES, BROWN HAIR, 5 FOOT 7 INCHES TALL, 134 LBS, 35 INCH CHEST AND OF ‘GOOD’ PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. IT SEEMS HE FOUND ARMY LIFE HARD AND WAS CHARGED A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR ABSENCES AND INDISCIPLINE – THESE INCLUDED 8 DAYS LOST PAY ON 13/01/1915; 56 DAYS DETENTION ON 30/06/1915; 7 DAYS IN THE GUARD ROOM ON 23/06/1915; FORFEITED 19 DAYS PAY ON 25/08/1915; 18 DAYS FIELD PUNISHMENT NO:2 ON 2/10/1915; 21 DAYS FIELD PUNISHMENT NO:1 AND 28 DAYS LOST PAY ON 15/12/1915. HE LANDED IN FRANCE ON 9/10/1915. WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL ON 8/03/1916 SUFFERING FROM ‘TRENCH FEET’ IN BOTH FEET. HE RETURNED TO ENGLAND ON THE HOSPITAL SHIP ‘CAMBRIA’ ON 16/03/1916. HE DIED OF COMPLICATIONS, GANGRENE AND TETNUS, AT TRENT BRIDGE MILITARY HOSPITAL ON 29/03/1916, AT 3PM. HE WAS AGED 32 YEARS OLD AND IS BURIED AT HEDON ROAD CEMETERY, EAST HULL.
ON 2/10/1916 HIS WIDOW WAS AWARDED A WEEKLY WAR PENSION OF 20 SHILLINGS AND SIX PENCE FOR HERSELF AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN. SHE REMARRIED AND TOOK THE SURNAME CUDBERTSON.
HIS BROTHER, PRIVATE, HARRY HALL, 7TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT ,WAS KILLED IN ACTION, OM 10/05/1917, AGED 24. HIS BROTHER, CHARLIE, SERVED IN THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS AND WAS TAKEN PRISONER, ON 30/10/1914 SPENDING THE REST OF THE WAR IN CAPTIVITY. HIS OTHER BROTHERS, EDWARD AND WALTER ALSO SERVED AND WERE DISCHARGED FROM THE ARMY.
