"Inspired confidence in all"
Henry C MouldsAnother name on the Nyngan and District First World War Roll of Honour features a small cross next to it. However, in this case the small Maltese cross to the right of the name signifies the award of the nation’s highest honour for valour. The recipient was Corporal AC Hall.
Arthur Hall was born at Granville NSW in August 1896, the son of Charles and Emma Hall. His father owned Glenelg and Willeroon stations in the Nyngan district of NSW and, after receiving his education at All Saints College in Bathurst, where he served in the school cadets, Arthur became an overseer on those properties.
He enlisted in the AIF at Dubbo in April 1916 and was allotted to the 6th Reinforcements of the 54th Battalion, embarking in October. After further training in Britain, he joined his battalion in February 1917 at Montauban, France.
Hall received a severe leg wound in March but returned to his unit three weeks later and fought in the second battle of Bullecourt in May and at Polygon Wood in September. Promoted to Lance Corporal in June 1917, he was subsequently promoted to Corporal in October.
In 1918, his battalion returned to the Somme to fight at Villers-Bretonneux in April, Morlancourt in July, and in the general offensive from August. It was for his bravery, brilliant leadership and devotion to duty during the operation at Peronne in early September 1918, that he was awarded the Victoria Cross. During the attack, Hall single-handedly rushed a machine-gun post which was checking the advance, killing four of the occupants, capturing the others and two machine-guns. He provided excellent covering support to his company, and while in advance of the main attack located enemy posts and led parties to deal with them.
The next day, the 54th continued to clear Peronne of the enemy. During a heavy barrage Hall rescued a wounded comrade who was urgently in need of medical attention.
When the 54th Battalion disbanded in October, Hall joined the 56th Battalion. In April 1919, as a Temporary Sergeant, he was decorated by King George V at Buckingham Palace. He returned to Australia and was discharged in Sydney in August to resume his occupation as a pastoralist.
In April 1927, Hall married Catherine Harris and they had four children. During the Second World War, he served as a Lieutenant in the 5th Garrison Battalion from 1939 until 1943, with a short period of service with the 7th Garrison Battalion. He was placed on the retired list in November 1943. He worked his property Gundooee in the Coolabah district of NSW and was a respected and active member of his community.
Arthur Charles Hall died at Nyngan on 25 February 1978, at the age of 81. He was survived by his wife and four children. He is buried at the tiny Anglican Church of Saint Matthew's West Bogan.
Hall’s medals, including his Victoria Cross, are now on display in the Hall of Valour at the Australian War Memorial.
- Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 9, (MUP), 1983 http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hall-arthur-charles-6523
