Name
Robert William Hall
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/03/1918
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
265163
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 89 and 90.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Son of William Edward and Jane Hall, of Duke's Lodge, Hatfield Park, Herts., born 1883 in Challock Kent.
In the 1891 Census, Robert, aged 8, was living with his mother Jane and father, William who was Head Game Keeper at Hatfield Park, in Keepers Cottage, Hatfield Park. Robert had five siblings. Also living with the family is Robert’s maternal Grandmother. In 1901 Robert, now age 18, was still living at Keepers Cottage, but now employed on the estate as an estate agents clerk.
By 1911, Robert, was boarding with Mr and Mrs Akers at 25 Primrose Cottages, Hatfield, still an estate agents clerk.
Officially recorded as born in Challock, Kent and was living in Hatfield when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
Robert landed in France on 6th November 1914 with the Hertfordshire Regiment as Private 1841. This would mean that he was a Herts territorial who have volunteered for overseas service. His
In January 1917, the British army revised the Regimental Numbers for servicemen due the re-organisation, Robert was renumbered to 265163.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of September 1914, in the list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Hall, R.W. – Hatfield Park – Territorials.” and in June 1918: "Four of the best of us are, alas! reported missing .........., Herbert and Robert Hall, ..........; it would have been hard to pick four finer types of our young manhood : our thoughts and prayers are indeed with those who watch and wait.”
The Herts Advertiser dated 11th May 18, reported: “Private Robert Hall: Hatfield Keeper’s Son Missing - Mr W E Hall head-keeper on the Hatfield Estate has received official information that his son, Robert, of the Herts. Regt has been missing since the opening of the German offensive. His brother, Hubert, also of the Herts. Regt, who has been in the same fighting, writes to say that he can find no trace of him and fears that he, with other men, was killed by a shell burst. Private Robert Hall, who was in civil life employed in the Estate Office at Hatfield, was a member of the Hatfield section of the 1st Herts. Regt. and when war broke out he went to France with the regiment in Nov. 1914. He was severely wounded in the fighting round Festubert and was for a long period in England before returning to the Front. Mr Hall’s third son, Arthur, is in the Machine Corps." - The latter survived. Hubert d. 27th April 1918 exactly a month after Robert.
Awarded the British Medal, the Victory Medal and 1914 Star.
Additional Information
His brother of Hubert John Hall was also killed.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mr W.E. Hall (Father) of Hatfield Park received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”,
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
