Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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27412   Private William David Hall
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 28/04/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 26/03/1898
Died: 16/08/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age: 19
Summary      
William David Hall was the oldest son of Thomas and Mary Jane Hall. He was born in Castlecaulfield on 26th March 1898. He was the oldest of seven children, all born in the Dungannon area. The family lived at Reaskcor. William’s father was a blacksmith. Private Hall went to the front around August 1917. He was attached to the Lewis Machine Gun section of the 9th Inniskilling Fusiliers. Private William David Hall was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 16th August 1917.
Further Information
William David Hall was the oldest son of Thomas and Mary Jane Hall. Thomas Hall and Mary Dilworth were married on 11th May 1897 in the district of Dungannon.
William David Hall was born in Castlecaulfield on 26th March 1898. He was the oldest of seven children, all born in the Dungannon area.
The 1901 census records 3 year old William David living with the family (including his grandparents) in Reaskcor, Castlecaulfield, Tyrone. William’s father Thomas is a blacksmith.
Family: Thomas Edward Hall, Mary Jane Hall, William David Hall (born 26th March 1898), Annie Jane Hall (born 26th August 1899), George Hall (born 14th January 1901), Emily Hall (born 3rd May 1902), Martha Hall (born 13th February 1904, twin), Josephine Hall (born 13th February 1904, twin), Thomas Robert Hall (born 18th December 1905).
By the time of 1911 census, William David was 13 years old and still at school. His father was still a blacksmith, but his father may well have taken over his father’s farm also. The family was still living in Reaskcor, Castlecaulfield.
William David Hall was a member of Castlecaulfield U.V.F.
William D Hall enlisted in Dungannon.
Medal card
1917
Private Hall went to the front around August 1917. He was attached to the Lewis Machine Gun section of the 9th Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Private William David Hall was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 16th August 1917, aged 19.
From the Tyrone Courier and News dated Thursday 4 October 1917: Missing
Mr Thomas Hall, Reaskcor, Castlecaulfield, has received official intimation that his eldest son, Private William David Hall, is missing since 16th August 1917. Private Hall, who was only nineteen years of age, had been at the front for over a year and was attached to the Lewis Machine Gun section of the 9th Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was previously a member of Castlecaulfield U.V.F.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 5th October 1917:
Private William David Hall, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the eldest son of Mr Thomas Hall, Reaskcor, Castlecaulfield, missing since 15th August.
1918
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 30 May 1918:
Mr Thomas Hall, Reascor, Castlecaulfield, has received official intimation that his eldest son, Private William David Hall, has been killed in action. He was previously reported missing on 16 August 1917
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 31st May 1918:
Private William D Hall, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, missing since August last and now reported killed in action, is the eldest son of Mr Thomas Hall, Reaskcor, Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone.
1919
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 14 August 1919: In Memorial
HALL – In sad and loving remembrance of Private William D Hall, 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who fell in action in France on 16th August 1917.
'We dream we see your dear kind face,
And still your still cold brow.
But in our aching hearts we know,
We have no Willie now.
Oh how lonely is our dwelling.
How we miss thee, none can tell,
Everything reminds us of thee;
And the things thou loved so well.
Yet again we hope to meet thee,
When the day of life is fled,
Then in heaven we hope to greet thee;
Where no farewell tears are shed.
Deeply regretted by his sorrowing Father, Mother, Brothers and sisters. Reakcorr, Castlecaulfield.
Memorials
Private W D Hall is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium. His inscription reads: HE DIED A HERO FOR GOD AND HOME AND NATIVE LAND.
Private William David Hall is commemorated locally on the WWI Roll of Honour in Castlecaulfield Church of Ireland and on Dungannon War Memorial.
The CWGC record Private Hall as the son of Thomas and Mary Jane Hall of Reaskcor, Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone.
Read more
Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Reaskcor, Castlecaulfield Castlecaulfield Census listing in Reaskcor, Castlecaulfield 54.500851 -6.842265
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
11/05/1897 M Dilworth Mary Parent M/1897/T1/1411/3/61
11/05/1897 M Hall Thomas Parent M/1897/T1/1411/3/61
26/03/1898 B Hall William Casualty U/1898/112/1012/22/36
26/08/1899 B Hall Annie Sibling U/1899/112/1012/22/383
14/01/1901 B Hall George Sibling U/1901/112/1012/23/204
03/05/1902 B Hall Emily Sibling U/1902/112/1012/24/6
13/02/1904 B Hall Josephine Sibling U/1904/112/1012/24/375 twin
13/02/1904 B Hall Martha Sibling U/1904/112/1012/24/376 twin
18/12/1905 B Hall Thomas Sibling U/1905/112/1012/25/287
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Hall family Lists William as age 3 at house 5 in Reaskcor, Castlecaulfield, Tyrone
2 1910 Ulster Towns Directory - Castlecaulfield Hall, Thomas - blacksmith
3 1911 Census lists Hall family Lists William as age 13 at house 4 in Reaskcor, Castlecaulfield, Tyrone
4 FindAGrave.com Photo of Private William David Hall's grave
5 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
6 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Private William David Hall's grave can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023