James Bateson Hall 1897 - 1917
Family history
James Bateson Hall
was born on 12 June 1897 at 32 Church St Windhill and baptised at the Primitive Methodist Chapel on Leeds Road on 11 July 1897.
His father, Arthur Hall, was a piano tuner and repairer, music teacher and later a traveller for a leather company.
His mother, Elizabeth Bateson, was the great-granddaughter of Joseph Bateson and Mary Rawnsley.
James himself was a clerk for a painting and paperhanging goods company (in 1911).
James Bateson Hall
The circumstances of James’s enlistment with the Northumberland Fusiliers are not known.
The 1/5th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, a territorial battalion, was based in Walker in
Newcastle when war broke out in August 1914.
After training it proceeded to France in April 1915, to join the 149th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
James began with Service Number 41756, then 576678 and finally 241917.
His Service Records have not been found, so are probably missing.
The CWGC Memorial says only that he died on 03 November 1917 Age 20.
However, his Medal Rolls Card (awarding the Victory and the British Medals) states that he
Died of Wounds, meaning he could have been injured at any time in the previous fortnight or so.
The Battalion’s War Diary gives some indication of when he might have been wounded.
This is a summary of its activities in October and November 1917:
Having been involved in the capture of Wancourt Ridge (near Arras), on 18 October
it began its move to the Ypres area. By 24 October, it was dug in about 1.5 miles north of Poelcappelle (5 miles NNE of Ypres).
25 October was a quiet day, with intermittent shelling. At 1pm, assembly
tape was laid out by Second Lieutenant Young between the Turenne Crossing and Aden House. The battalion formed up at 11pm that night.
The Diary notes that rations and hot tea were served.
The Third Battle of Ypres, or the Battle of Passchendaele as it is also known,
started on 31 July 1917 and lasted until 10 November 1917.
Zero hour on 26 October was 05:40.
It is not known which Company James Hall was attached to.
B Company advanced and took its first objective easily.
When the first and second waves reached the road they found it wired between the trees.
They attempted to cut the wire to reach an enemy trench. But they were enfiladed by machine gun fire and
“practically wiped out”. The other waves were unable to advance on account of intense machine gun fire.
The other three Companies also came under heavy fire.
At 4:15pm, the Diary stated, chillingly:
“Remains of Battalion back on original line”. The battalion had advanced a few hundred yards then retreated to its starting position: the day’s action had completely failed in its objective.
At 11pm, the battalion was relieved and moved back to Rose Cross ROS Camp.
The casualties were severe: 4 Officers were Killed or Missing and 7 were Wounded. 290 Other Ranks were
Killed or Missing, while 149 were Wounded.
James Bateson Hall may have been one of the wounded.
On 27 October, the depleted battalion moved west to Boesinghe. But at 10:30am the camp was shelled by howitzers:
1 Nissan hut was hit “causing many casualties”.
James Bateson Hall may have been one of the wounded.
On 28 and 29 October, the battalion moved further west, to Elverdinge,
then to Proven.
There was some bombing by enemy aircraft, but no reports of casualties.
On 30 October, the battalion moved back east, to Suez Camp, near Poelcappelle.
Some bombing was reported, but no casualties.
The following days to 11 November were spent resting and cleaning up,
with no enemy action reported.
James Bateson Hall Died of his Wounds on 3 November 1917, presumably at a nearby medical station -
there was a well-known Advanced Dressing Station at Essex Camp, near Ypres, for example.
He was buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, about 1.4 miles ENE of Proven.
At probate his effects were £124 1s 1d.
Images
Battalion War Diary extract
[The Battalion had been in the Arras area (at Wancourt)]
18.10.17 – March to Mireaumont [S of Arras] and entrain at 12 noon – arrive at Cassel [halfway between St Omer
and Poperinge] at 10pm. And march to Arneke area where Battalion is billeted in farms.
20.10.17 – March to Proven... stop 1½ hours for dinner at Herzeele. Arrive in Patiala Camp at 4pm [abt 10 miles]
21.10.17 – Resting and Church parade
22.10.17 – Packing up & preparation for the line
23.10.17 – move by train from Proven to Boesinghe [N of Ypres] & march to Saragossa Farm. Wet day....
24.10.17 – Issuing battle stores...Leave camp at 4pm to take over line...in
neighbourhood of Pascal Farm
[NW of Poelcappelle] C, D, B and A Companies on a platoon frontage dug in in depth
25.10.17 – Lying quiet the whole day. Shelling intermittently the whole day on front line system of shell holes
Assembly tape laid out at 1pm by 2/Lieut Young from Turenne Crossing to Aden House Battn formed up at 11pm
Rations and hot tea served out...
26.10.17 - 5:40am – Barrage commenced. Companies go over well. Enemy barrage began within 3 mins of zero hour
7:10 – A Coy heavily shelled
7:10 – Report from wounded that all Companies have taken their first objective
7:40 – Report from wounded the B Coy, on left, are on Hill 23 & being heavily fired on by machine guns from direction of wood
9am – Report that C Coy are held up by machine gun from huts
11:36am – One platoon of 6th NF move forward and occupy line Aden House to Turenne Crossing with remains of A Coy
2:15pm – Lieut Lewis and remains of C Coy reline to Turenne Crossing & get in touch with A Coy
4:15pm – Remains of Battalion back on original line
From wounded the following reports are gathered
B Coy (left Coy) advanced well from assembly point taking first objective easily until they reached the road
which was found wired between the trees – when the first and second waves reached this and attempted to cut
the wire to reach enemy trench situated about VIC which was full of enemy, they were enfiladed by machine
guns firing from V1690 & practically wiped out. The other waves were unable to advance on account of intense MG fire
C Coy & 4th NF on their right advanced as far as huts in VI8 but were unable to advance further on account of MG fire
D Coy having taken first objective advanced under heavy fire
No further news can be obtained of this Coy
11pm – Bn relieved by 4th Bn Yorkshire Regiment
Moves back to Rose Cross ROS Camp [perhaps referring to Carrefour de Rose near Boesinghe]
27.10.17 at Boesinghe
10:30am – Battn Camp shelled by howitzers 1 Nissan hut hit causing many casualties
2pm – Bn moves to Roussel Farm by train & march route. Resting, cleaning up & re- organising 1 Officer & 90 men on working party
28.10.17 at Elverdinge
Cleaning up and re-organising 1 Officer and 90 men on working party
29.10.17 at Elverdinge
30.10.17 at Proven
Bombing at night quite close to camp by enemy aircraft
Move by march route to Suez Camp via De Wippe Cabt - International Corner. Arrive 3pm. Some bombing in vicinity during night
31.10.17 – 1 Officer & 50 OR on working party at Boesinghe. Companies resting and re-organising
Casualties on 26th October were as under
Killed: 2/Lieut WG Verrill
Wounded: Capt E Bissett, Lieut F Haswell, 2/Lieuts R Gray, TM Scott, AR Park, W Carr, FW Hill
Missing: Lieut P Shaw, 2/Lieuts WC May, WW Wilkin, & Rev P Looby CF (RC Chaplain) [he was listed as Killed in Action]
Other ranks: Killed 60 – Wounded – 149 Missing – 230
Total strength of Bn on 1st October 41 Officers & 763 OR
Total strength of Bn on 31st October 30 Officers & 522 OR
Reinforcements received during month – 1 Officer & 215 OR
1.11.17 to 10.11.17
Suez Camp – Resting and cleaning up. Fatigue parties of 2 Officers & 110 OR supplied to 446 Field Co RE at
Boesinghe. Remainded [sic] of Battalion employed in upkeep of camp, making tents splinter proof, and minor alterations. Sources * War Diary of 5th Bn The Northumbld Fusiliers - WO-95-2828-2_03 -
11 May 1917 to 31 July 1918 - available at National Archives * Some maps available at digitalcommonwealth.org * Commonwealth War Graves Commission at cwgc.org * Find a Grave.com