Information about birth

Year of birth:
1897
Place of birth:
Heap Bridge, Bury, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

General information

Last known residence:
18 Andrew Street, Bury, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Profession:
Warehouseman

Army information

Country:
Verenigd Koninkrijk
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Lance Corporal
Service number:
200477
Enlistment place:
Bury, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Units:
 —  Lancashire Fusiliers, 1/5th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
06/09/1917
Place of death:
Rhine, Broodseinde, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
20

Cemetery

Tyne Cot Cemetery
Plot: X
Row: B
Grave: 23

Points of interest 4

#1 Place of birth
#2 Last known residence
#3 Enlistment place
#4 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Fred Hall was the son of Albert and Margaret Hall. He was born around 1897 in Heap Bridge, Bury, Lancashire. Before the war, he lived in Bury, Lancashire, and worked as a warehouseman. Fred enlisted in the British Army and served in the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (125th Brigade, 42th (East Lancashire) Division).

Fred was killed on 6 September 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. At the time, the battalion was in reserve lines near Borry Farm, west of Zonnebeke. Two companies arrived around midnight in the assembly trench in anticipation of the start of the attack. At 7:15 a.m., heavy shelling began on Borry Farm, after which the two companies launched their attack. At the same time, Beck House, Iberian, and Hill 35 were attacked by neighbouring troops. Skirmishes occurred throughout the day, and there was machine-gun fire, including from Vampir. The attack stalled after 150 yards, followed by heavy counterattacks at 10:45 a.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11:10 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the left flank of the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers had to withdraw to its original line. The right flank held its ground and consolidated their positions, which were located between Frost House and Vampir.

Fred died at the age of 20. After the war, his body was found near Rhine. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.

Sources 3

1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers war dairy (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95 95/2654/2).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Sources used
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Sources used
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p.72-73.
Sources used

More information 3