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Army Service Corps.
John William Hall was born on 29th March 1898 at Giggal Hill, Manor Road, Ossett the youngest son of John Hall (1849 – 1932) and Martha Ann nee Halstead (1861 – 1927) who married in late 1878 in Wakefield district. John Hall senior was born at Little London, Leeds and Martha Ann was born at Midgley. By 1881 the couple were living at Midgley with two children, two years old Mary A and David who was one month old. The household was complete with John’s mother in law, Mary, a widow, born in 1816.
Giggal Hill, Manor Road late 19th Century. Walter’s place of birth
By 1891 the family had moved to live at Newmillerdam, and now included six children, comprising five sons, all scholars, and a five months old daughter, Edith. John senior was a coal miner. By 1901 the couple had moved again, and were now living at Manor Road, Ossett, with six children, five sons, including John William. Edith was the only daughter in the four roomed household which also had three visitors called Bagnall.
In 1911 the remaining family comprised John Hall senior and two of his children including John William Hall, aged 13 years and at school. John senior had fathered ten children, seven of whom, had survived until this date; the family were living at 4, Ferrands Yard, Horbury.
War broke out on 4th August 1914 when he was 16 years old and unable to enlist legally until March 1916. John William’s army service record has not survived but he enlisted at Wakefield on 2nd November 1916. We know too that he worked, or had worked, as a coal miner and that he could have avoided service if he was still in employment. Conscription was introduced by March 1916, the date of his eighteenth birthday, but, if he was still in work as a miner he would have been a volunteer soldier. Subsequent circumstances suggest that, by July 1918 he was no longer employed as a coal miner.
On 23rd July 1918 The Police Gazette issued its usual listing of Deserters and Absentees From His Majesty’s Service. Included therein was John William’s name, regiment, service number, particulars (he was 5’ tall), employment (he was recorded as a “labourer”), place of birth (Ossett), the date and place of Desertion or Absence which was recorded as 8th July 1918 at Bradford. If there were mitigating circumstances they were not offered. Was he a deserter or was he absent with a reason?
Sadly John William Hall died of pneumonia on 5th November 1918 at the War Hospital, Horton, Bradford. He was 20 years of age and his address was 30, Park Street, Horbury. The official listing of his death recorded that his “theatre of war” was “home” indicating that he did not serve overseas; neither did he qualify for a service medal. He died six days before the Armistice. His mother’s address held by the CWGC was 13, Back Belgrave Street ,Dewsbury.
John William Hall died in service and was commemorated by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission (CWGC) Headstone and buried with honours at Horbury Cemetery. CWGC may commemorate a person considered to be a deserter if there is evidence that circumstances of their death provide substantial doubt about their intention to desert or if there are other circumstances to warrant exception. There can be significant differences between desertion and absence and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission must have taken the view that there were mitigating circumstances.
CWGC Headstone Horbury Cemetery F.U.251
John William Hall is remembered at the Horbury War Memorial and by Horbury & Ossett Phoenix Rotary Remembrance 2018.
Driver John William Hall, Army Services Corps., will also be remembered at the Ossett War Memorial alongside his brothers and sisters in arms. The Ossett Fallen
By 1921 John senior, aged 72 years, had returned to Ossett and was boarding with the Tomlinson family at 122, Dewsbury Road, Ossett. He died in January 1932.
SOURCES
Research by The Ossett Fallen Team 2023. Biography by Alan Howe.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2752032/j-hall/
