Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Albert Hall, a general labourer, born in the April quarter of 1861 in Sileby, Leicestershire (son of George Hall and Dinah Porter) and his wife Mary Ann Hall (nee Turner, married in the April quarter of 1896 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire), born 1862 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Willie (William) was born in 1899 in Mountsorrel, he had one sibling, George Albert, born on the 11th July 1896 in Mountsorrel, in March 1901 the family home was at Main Street, Mountsorrel. In April 1911 William was employed as a boot trade inker and was residing in the family home at Wharfe Yard, Mountsorrel, together with his father, a hotel farm labourer, his mother and siblings, George, a boot trade inker, Herbert, born on the 12th May 1901, Nellie, born in the October quarter of 1905 and Wilfred, born on the 17th August 1908, the latter three siblings were all born in Mountsorrel. Willie also had the following siblings, Gertrude, born in the January quarter of 1900 in Mountsorrel and who died in the January quarter of 1901 in Mountsorrel, aged 1 and Percy, born in the October quarter of 1903 in Mountsorrel and who died in the April quarter of 1904 in Mountsorrel.
William enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 2nd July 1914 in Mountsorrel, and was allotted the service number 1973. He gave his place of birth as Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and age as 17 years. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as blacksmiths labourer and his employer as the Mountsorrel Granite Company. He gave his present address as Sileby Road, Mountsorrel
His medical examination took place in Mountsorrel on the 3rd July 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 17 years 6 months, that he was 5 feet 2¾ inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 31 and 33 inches and his physical development was described as fair.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Albert Hall, Sileby Road, Mountsorrel.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Posted. 5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 2/7/14.
Embodied Service. Pte. 5/8/14.
Embarked. With 5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 25/2/15.
Landed. Le Havre. 27/2/15.
To Hospital. Wounded. In the Field. 25/9/15
Died of wounds. In the Field. 26/9/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 2/7/14 – 27/2/15. 241 days.
France. 28/2/15 – 26/9/15. 211 days.
Total Service. 1 year 87 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William’s surviving service record amounts to a total of thirteen pages, of which only six pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in poor condition, the hand written information in some cases is barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of service.
The War Diary records: 25 Sep-15 - TRENCHES. At 3.50 am bombardment of HOOGE. Enemy replied and also shelled A1 and 50. At 5.56 am straw which had been put out by night was lighted in front of 50. Smoke bombs were thrown from 49 and A1. This promptly drew fire. 50 and A1 were heavily shelled and 49 trench mortared. Artillery telephone communication lost but 3rd LINCOLNSHIRE Battery and 2nd DERBYSHIRE Howitzer fired over 50 and 49 and later 4th STAFFORDSHIRE Battery. About 7.l5 am bombardment ended and the rest of the day was fairly quiet.