John Hall

Killed in Action on the 19/08/1918 during the capture of the village of Vieux Buguin near Hazebrouck

The 1/1st Lanarkshire Yeomanry (John's initial Battalion, Service Number 506) - On completing mobilisation in August 1914 it moved to Coupar. Now dismounted John and the Regiment sailed for Gallipoli in September 1915 and landed at Cape Helles on the 11th October 1915. It now came under command of the 52nd (Lowland) Division. After being evacuated from Gallipoli in late 1915 the Regiment went via Mudros (a port on the island of Lemnos) to Egypt, arriving on the 7th February 1916. It now came under orders of the 1st Dismounted Brigade. On the 16th October 1916 the Brigade was broken up and the Regiment went to the 2nd Dismounted Brigade. The Regiment merged with the Ayrshire Yeomanry to form the 12th (Ayr and Lanark) Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers on the 4th January 1917. This new unit came under orders of 229th Infantry Brigade in 74th (Yeomanry) Division. The Regiment went to France with the rest of the Division in May 1918. On the 21st June 1918 the Regiment was transferred to 94th Infantry Brigade of the 31st Division. John was Killed in Action during the capture of the village of Vieux Buguin near Hazebrouck. This was part of the The Advance in Flanders, 18th August - 6th September 1918 : Second and Fifth Armies begin operations in the Lys valley, recapturing the ground lost in April 1918. SEE PHOTOS x 12 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY JUNE - AUGUST 1918. From the War Diary (9) : "IN SUPPORT 19/08/1918 : During the NORFOLK advance one PLATOON from "C" Company had to mop up a post and in doing so suffered 10 casualties. "C" Company was relieved by a Company of the R.W.F. on the night of 19/20th and returned to Z line". The Le Grand Hasard Military Cemetery (where John lies) was begun by John's Division (the 31st) at the end of June 1918. John is also remembered on the Coatbridge Technical College, Maxwell Parish Church, East United Free Church and Coatbridge High Schools Rolls of Honour and the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 2. his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name in the De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, his Pension Records x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 3, Le Grand Hasard Military Cemetery, the Lanarkshire Yeomanry Cap Badge and the Royal Scots Fusiliers Cap Badge. John's grave inscription reads "SERVED IN GALLIPOLI EGYPT AND FRANCE". Finally, see photos for the 31st Division Order of Battle x 14 (the Division John was with when he fell) and Newspaper clippings x 5 (Coatbridge Express x 3 and Coatbridge Leader x 2).