Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
The War Diary for today records. LIEVIN. Working parties found at night for digging cable trenches.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
The photograph above is of John Hall together with his wife Catherine Hall, nee Bown together with their two Children Gwendolen and Charles. It was taken in 1915 prior to going to fight in France. He died of wounds on the 17.05.1917. His wife Catherine subsequently married Albert Joseph Wilkinson, BEM, of Margaret Street Coalville who was the younger brother of Private George Wilkinson, 5929, who is also featured on the Coalville Clock Tower memorial. John Hall's children both married but neither had children themselves. Both are now deceased.
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Submitted by C. Walker 2018


Coalville Times article - Friday May 25th, 1917

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Mrs Hall of Ashby Road, Coalville, has received a letter from a hospital matron and chaplain in France, notifying her of the death of her husband, Sergeant John Hall of the Leicestershire Regiment, who before the war was a furnace man at Stableford and Co’s works. He was 26 years of age and leaves a widow and two children. The letters stated that he died in hospital from wounds received in action. He was in the Territorials before the war and went out with the first draft. The deceased soldier was an old boy of the Belvoir Road Council School. His father, Mr Chas. Hall, of 62, Beresford Street, Coalville, who works for the Urban Council, has another son in France.

Coalville Times article - Friday August 17th, 1917

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service was held in the Coalville Wesleyan Church on Sunday evening for Sergeant J. Hall, Gunner G. Beale and Pte. G. Firban, who have all made the supreme sacrifice for their country. The Rev. J. R. Sharpley, of Ashby, was the preacher. Special hymns were sung and the organist (Miss March) played, “O Rest in the Lord” and Chopin’s “Funeral March”. There was a good congregation.

Coalville Times article - Friday May 17th, 1918

IN MEMORIAM

In ever loving memory of Sergeant J. Hall, 4th Leicestershire Regiment, died of wounds, May 17th, 1917.

“Though death divides
Fond memories cling.”

From his loving Wife and Children

Coalville Times article - Friday February 14th, 1919

PROPOSED MEMORIAL AND THANKSGIVING FUND

Meetings are being held throughout the Ashby Wesleyan Circuit, to consider the inauguration of a war memorial and thanksgiving fund, and there was a gathering for this purpose in the Coalville Wesleyan Chapel on Saturday night, when Mr C. H. March presided over a fairly good attendance.

The details of the scheme are set forth in a circular which is being issued, and of which the following is a copy.

“To celebrate the end of the ‘great war’ and the coming of ‘peace’ the quarterly meeting of the Circuit decided by a unanimous vote to inaugurate a great ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund.’ The nation in the hours of danger has not counted any sacrifice of blood or treasure too great to hasten the time when all that we hold dear should be made secure from an unscrupulous foe. That end has been achieved. The victory is ours. In token of our gratitude to Almighty God, we desire to raise this ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund’ to enable the churches in this Circuit more efficiently to carry on, and extend the Kingdom of God. We suggest that contributions may be given as a thank-offering for loved ones spared, or in memory of dear ones who have laid down their lives for us. There are also large numbers in the Circuit, who, because of the importance of their work, have escaped the horrors of the battlefield, and will be able to give substantially in thankful recognition of their privileges. Everyone, indeed, has received great blessing through the ministry of our church, and the debt we owe to our beloved Methodism is greater than we can tell. Therefore, we earnestly appeal to all our people to give hearty and generous support to the ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund’. The first claim upon the income of the fund will be the clearing of the debt upon the Circuit houses, which amounts to £1,000, thus saving £44 per year in interest. The remainder of the income will be held at the disposal of the Circuit quarterly meeting for the benefit of the work of God in the Circuit. – William Hooper, William H. Wardle, B.A., and William Solomon (ministers), J. P. Adcock, J. P. (treasurer); W. J. Plowright and C. H. March (secretaries).”

During the meeting, Mr T. Frith read the Roll of Honour, which contained 99 names formerly connected with the church and Sunday School. Two have won the D.C.M. – Harry Beard and Edwin Collier – and four the Military Medal, these being Tom Palmer, Tom Wood, George Wildgoose and Walter Lewis.

Twenty had made the supreme sacrifice – Cecil A. Bradshaw, Ernest Batho, Geo. Beale, Sydney Dodds, Walter Fantom, John Hall, Horace Hall, Jess Jones, Wilfred Jones, Fred Hart, Arthur Johnson, Walter Lewis, M.M., Harry Lewis, William Setchell, Sam Smith, Tom Usherwood, Willie Wells, Alf Wood, Albert Essex and Tom Wild.

Coalville Times article - Friday May 16th, 1919

IN MEMORIAM

In ever loving memory of Sergeant J. Hall, 4th Leicestershire Regiment, died of wounds in France, May 17th, 1917.

“Saviour in Thy gracious keeping,
Leave we now our loved ones sleeping.”

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 19/10/2017