Sergeant William Hall
William Hall was born on 12 February 1885 at Doocarrick, Lisnageer, County Cavan, the first of four children of farmer David Hall and his wife Emily (nee Gardiner). By 1911 he was living on the family farm with his parents and three brothers.
Hall enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Cavan on 12 October 1909 (No.408). He left the regiment at the end of his four-year term of service, but re-enlisted at Cavan nine days later, on 20 October 1913 (No.877 – later Corps of Hussars No.71143). He was promoted to corporal on 7 March 1914. His brother Edward Hall joined the regiment in August 1913.
The two brothers embarked for France with A Squadron on 17 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne. At the end of December 1914 William fell ill with bronchitis and after treatment at No.10 Stationary Hospital at St Omer and No.13 General Hospital, Boulogne, was evacuated to England on 13 January. Following treatment at the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in London he was discharged on 1 February, returning to the North Irish Horse base depot at Antrim. He was promoted to sergeant on 11 November 1915.
On 13 September 1916 Hall returned to France, where he was posted to one of the three squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment – A, D or E. He remained with the regiment until March/April 1918, when it was dismounted and converted to a cyclist regiment. This meant a 25 per cent reduction in the regiment's numbers. Many of the surplus men were transferrd to other regiments.
On 24 April Hall was posted to the Military Mounted Police on probation. His transfer was confirmed on 5 September 1918. (His brother Edward was transferred to the Military Mounted Police at the same time.) He was issued regimental number P/16263, given the rank of lance corporal, and posted to V Corps Headquarters.
Hall returned to the UK on 25 March 1919. He was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, a month later.
Shown here are Hall's 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal. The location of his 1914 Star is unknown. Images Copyright © Phillip Tardif with all rights reserved as set out in this Use of Material policy.