Private Herbert Hall
Herbert Hall was born on 25 June 1896 at 74 Dee Street, Belfast, the first of ten children of grocer David Hall and his wife Margaret (née Craig). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Dee Street with his parents and siblings.
Hall enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 23 October 1914 (No.1330). On 17 November 1915 he embarked for France with F Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 33rd Division.
In June 1916 F Squadron combined with C Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps until September 1917, when the regiment was disbanded and its men transferred to the infantry. Like most, Hall was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – on 20 September, joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. He was issued regimental number 41225. He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.
Hall was wounded in the leg and foot during the German offensive in the spring of 1918, either during the retreat from St Quentin from 21 to 28 March or in the fighting between Wulverghem and Kemmel in April.
On 28 September 1918 Hall was discharged, being no longer physically fit for war service (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations). He was awarded a pension due to his wounds.
Following his discharge Hall returned to Belfast, later working as a draughtsman. On 18 September 1925 he married Alice Patterson. He died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, on 13 October 1960, and was buried in the Dundonald Cemetery.