HALL, William John

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        1st Canadian Infantry Division
                                             1st Infantry Brigade
                                             1st Battalion - Western Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
 SERVICE NO:                  654378
RESIDENCE:                    Wroxeter - Ontario
DATE OF BIRTH:            October 12, 1886
                                             Turnberry Township – Huron County- Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           August 30, 1918                   31 years     10 months
CEMETERY:                     Sun Quarry Cemetery – Cherisy –
                                             Pas de Calais – France.
                B     7     
WIFE:                                 Mrs. Clara Edna Hall – Bluevale / Wroxeter – Ontario
PARENTS:                         Mr. & Mrs. John Hall – Bluevale - Ontario
Occupation:                        Labourer.                              Religion:     Methodist.
Enlistment:                         Wroxeter – January 31, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion.
Enlistment Age:                  29 years     3 months.

Private Hall along with his comrades of the 161st arrived in England on November 11, 1916 and then he is drafted to the 1st Battalion and proceeds overseas on March 28, 1918. He arrived at the reinforcement camp on March 30th, is drafted to the 4th Battalion on August 14, 1918 and joins the unit already in the field on August 15, 1918. He is transferred to the 1st Battalion on August 21st and joins them in the field. 
Private Hall was first reported missing, and then he was reported killed in action, during an attack on Upton Wood which was located near Vois-en-Artois.
Artillery began the advance and objectives were reached through very heavy enemy machine gun fire. The enemy guns had the advantage of the slope. One platoon of “A” Company withdrew from the front and moved to the line under heavy fire. “B” Company suffered heavily. “A” Company had to strengthen “C” Company.
Just prior to noon the enemy counter attacked in force and turned the left flank of “B” Company. They withdrew to “D” Company.
The Battalion counter attacked and pushed the enemy back and all reserves were in the line.
By early afternoon the line was along Cemetery Avenue across railway tracks to Vis-en-Artois switch.
The wounded could not be evacuated due to enemy machine gun / artillery fire.
Cemetery Avenue was only held by 60 men and the enemy was coming through between Chateau Wood and Crow’s Nest. Artillery fire was brought down on the enemy.
In the evening, the weather was dull but there was no rain.
Casualties totalled 167 men wounded, killed or missing in action.