Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Hall an ironstone quarry man, born 1855 in Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire, and his wife Elizabeth Hall (nee Swain, married in the 4th quarter of 1881 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1858 in Long Clawson, Leicestershire. Reuben was born in the 1st quarter of 1893 in Long Clawson, he had one sibling, a brother John Thomas, an ironstone quarry man, born 1882 in Long Clawson, in March 1901 the family home was at Main Street, Long Clawson, Leics. In April 1911 Reuben was employed as an ironstone labourer and was residing in the family home at 33, Brook Street, Kettering, Northamptonshire, together with his father, now a blast furnace labourer and his mother.
Reuben was subjected to a Medical Board, appearing before them on the 6th October 1916, and the conclusion was that he was suffering from a tubercle of the lung, rendering him unfit for further Army service and he was discharged as medically unfit on the 20th October 1916. He had served in France from the 7th October 1915 until the 28th March 1916. The findings of the medical board were as follows:- Originated Nov: 1915 France. While in the trenches under very bad conditions he became run down in general health and developed a cough. Was invalided home March 1916 with trench feet and debility. On discharge from hospital in June 1916 was sent to Rugely Camp put on light duties till September. The cough became progressively worse and health deteriorated necessitating his admission to hospital: Pres: Con: He is emaciated, very pale and looks very ill, chest is flat, troublesone cough and fairly copious expectoration sputum contains numerous tubercle bacilli. Both lungs are affected and evidence of cavity formation proceeding at the left apex. The objective signs in the lungs suggest that the disease is not an old standing chronic tuberculous process but one of fairly recent origin. The result of Active Service. Exposure in trenches. Total incapacity at present. Reuben was awarded a weekly pension of 25 shillings, and this was due to have been increased to 27 shillings and 6 pence on the 4th April 1917, but was shown as cancelled due to Reuben having died on the 2nd March 1917.
On Friday March 9th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading.”LONG CLAWSON” – A SOLDIERS DEATH.- Much sympathy is expressed throughout the village with Mr and Mrs J. Hall on the death of their son, Pte. Reuben Hall, of the East Yorks., age 24, who passed away at his home on Friday 2nd March after a long illness. The deceased was out in France during the winter of 1915 and 1916, when he got badly frozen feet and gas poisoning. After long hospital treatment he was discharged on pension, but gradually became weaker until death ensued. Despite his great suffering he bore all without murmuring, and held high hopes of recovering until nearing the end. He is the second son Mr and Mrs Hall have lost during the war. The funeral took place on Tuesday with military honours, a firing party from the Royal Flying Corps, Melton Mowbray, being present. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. W. Christie, Primitive Methodist Minister, Melton Mowbray. The coffin was carried by four of his old friends. Messrs. E. Tinsley, W. Edlin, J. Wilford and H. Hand. The mourners included his father and mother and many relatives. There was a large and representative congregation of the village present to pay their last respects to this brave soldier who had given his life for King and country and the firing party fired the usual volley. The Chapel was draped in black and white. Floral tributes were received from Mother, Father and family, Aunt Emily and Cousins, and his old friend Lizzie.
On Friday March 16th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LONG CLAWSON” – A SOLDIERS DEATH.- In connection with the death and funeral of Private Reuben Hall which was reported in our last issue we have been requested to publish the very impressive address delivered on the occasion of the internment by the Rev. W. Christie. Mr Christie said: If one were to preach a sermon today over the remains of our young friend, there could only be one text that we would choose as the most fitting for the occasion. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.” The test of character is the amount of sacrifice it is prepared to endure for others. Whatever a man may give, he gives his utmost and most precious possession when he gives himself. He comes nearest the God-Man (Christ) when he offers himself on the altar of sacrifice. He takes Christ’s yoke upon him then. He gives his life a ransom for many. Without irreverence or sacrilege it may be said of such a one who dies for his fellows. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, and the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed.” We are here today paying our last tribute to the remains of one of that great multitude who in the very zenith of their strength, in the glorious years of young manhood, have given themselves without a murmur to the sacred cause of human freedom and righteousness. In this sad and solemn ceremony we are being reminded by our sainted dead how awful is war’s demand. There is brought home to us today some faint idea of war’s terrible price. It is not the material loss – the destruction of the hard earned accumulations of centuries, or the priceless works of human creation that have been destroyed – that breaks our hearts and makes our grief inconsolable. It is the bruising and the maiming and the crushing of our own flesh and blood, our noble youths so full of life and joy and rich promise that makes our desolation so complete. If we could fight without this diabolical harvest we might talk of the moral value of war, but confronted with this ultimate issue war must ever be regarded as man’s greatest curse. While there is little that brings relief to those who have been bereaved yet the tragedy of today is softened for us by the fact that our friend was not stricken beyond recall on the battle field. The deadly gas did its foul work but our fallen hero was spared to come home for a little while to be cared for by loving hands. His distress and pain were alleviated by the ministry of those who watched tenderly over him through the last struggle. Ere he fell asleep he was able to leave us with the full assurance that he would hear the “Well done” of the Master. He was looking forward to “the joy of the Lord.” The deeper poignancy of this dreadful war is in the silence, the absence of news from loved ones reported killed and buried in an unknown grave; or when wounded or sick and dying without the presence of loved ones around them to whisper words of hope and love to them, it is then our hearts reach the deepest pain and sorrow. It was given to our noble friend to see his home and friends once more and to realise clearly and strongly that the future held for him a richer, ampler, fuller life. He could say I finished the work Thou gavest me to do. He had fought a good fight and finished his course and now he knew he was entering into higher service. He was promoted to a larger sphere of activity; being faithful over a few things God called him up higher. As we mourn with the bereaved ones yet we would not think that the cloud is without the silver lining. It is not all waste and loss. Our brave solder boy has not lost his life, he has found it. As he fell asleep and closed his eyes on earth, it was only to open them on the other shore to “behold the King in His beauty.” His life has only been transfigured and transferred to a nobler and loftier plane of living. Never again shall earthly care and sorrow; Weigh down the wings that bear those souls on high; Listen oh earth, and hear that glorious strain. Never, never again, never again. We will not forget to be thankful for our rich dead who have left us an imperishable example of heroic self endurance, of self-forgetfulness of Christlike self-sacrifice in their free will offering of themselves in defence of the dear homeland. They have left us a debt of love we can never amply repay. Base indeed will be the nation or the individual who does not bear the call of our martyred sons to prize and cherish the privileges they have won for us by their suffering and death. The message that comes to us from the holy soil where every dead hero lies is surely, “Quit you like men, be strong.” “Stand fast having your loins girt and your lights burning.” Let us show ourselves worthy of their sacrifice by living nobly, and carrying on the finest traditions of our race; then they shall not have died in vain. Reuben first entered the theatre of war on the 7th October 1915. He was discharged suffering from sickness on the 20th October 1916 and was awarded the Silver War Badge, number B. 23687.
On Friday March 8th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” IN MEMORIAM. – HALL.- In loving memory of our dear son, Reuben Hall, who passed away on March 2nd, 1917. From his sorrowing Parents, Long Clawson.