In Beersheba War Cemetery Israel and Palestine (including Gaza) is the Commonwealth War Grave of 59170 Private Edward Hall, serving with ‘C’ Company, 1/5th Battalion Welsh Regiment who died 03/11/1917.
The son of Edward and Margaret Hall, of 66, Havannah Terrace, Washington, Co. Durham.
Edward was born 1st April 1898 at 7 Granary Row in Washington, Co Durham. He was the third youngest of five boys, to Edward Hall, born Usworth, 2nd September 1870, died 7th December 1947, and Margaret Hall [nee Towers], born Ryhope, 19th June 1871, they were married in 1891. The other children were George, born 2nd September 1894, employed as a Pony Putter below ground in 1911, (in 1939 he was married to an Isabella, born 14th October 1894, and were residing at 18 the Drive, Washington, with three children, Jane, born 14th February 1926, George William Hall, born 18th September 1928 plus one other child]. Next was William, born 23rd November 1895, who was also employed in the colliery as a Pony Driver above ground in 1911. The younger brother to Edward was Thomas Lawrie aged 8 in 1911 who was still at school, and finally John Hewitt, born 19th August 1908, [in 1939 he was residing at Clem Buildings, Washington, with Eliza B. born 24th June 1863].
The family were residing at 7 Waggonway, Usworth, before moving in 1894 to 7 Granary Row, Washington, Co Durham. They were still there in the 1911 census. [In 1939, Edward the father and his wife Margaret were residing at 89 The Drive, Washington, with their son William]. Edward was short-sighted and worked as a Colliery Clerk.
Edward was attested on the 16th May 1916 on the Derby scheme and he had been categorised Class A group. However, due to his young age he was not officially enlisted until he achieved the age of 18 years and 8 months (later reduced to 7 months) which was the earliest date he could enlist because he was born in 1898.
When Edward attested at Gateshead, he was allocated to the 5th Reserve Training Battalion, with a serial number of 5/41998, but when he arrived at Washington for enlisting in January 1917, he was allocated/transferred to the 1/5th Welsh Regiment, with the service number 59170.
Brief History of the 1/5th Welsh Battalion:
“They embarked from Devonport for the Gallipoli front on the 19th July 1915 and made a landing at Suvla Bay on the 9th of August 1915 and were involved in operations in the Suvla Bay area suffering heavy losses, on the 8th of October 1915 the 1/4th Battalion amalgamated with 1/5th to form the 4th Welsh Composite Battalion. (They would resumed their original identity on the 10th of February 1916). By the time they were evacuated to Mudros on the 11th of December the Division stood at just 162 officers and 2428 men (approx 15%). From Mudros they went on to Alexandria and to Wardan, where the the divisional artillery rejoined between the 11th and 22nd of February 1916. On the 3rd of July 1917, the 1/4th again amalgamated with the 1/5th and became known as the 4/5th Battalion.”
They were then in action at The Battle of Romani in the Palestine campaign and in 1917, 158th Brigade fought at The First Battle of Gaza and the whole Division were in action during The Second Battle of Gaza, The Third Battle of Gaza when they were involved in capture of Beersheba, Tell Khuweilfe, and The Capture of Jerusalem. In December they were in action in The Defence of Jerusalem and the capture of Beersheba. He was in ‘C’ Company when he was killed on the 3rd of November.
His two medals were received by his mother on the 8th April 1922.
Research: James Pasby
Photos: Janis USA
Edward Hall is remembered at Washington on W96.01, W96.05 and W96.22.
