TOM HALL 

To the list of brave young Stockportonians who have given their lives on the battlefields of France and Flanders must be added the name of Private Tom Hall (9-12781), 9th Cheshire Regiment who was killed in action on 2 January.  Private Hall, who was 26 years of age and single, was the son of Mrs Margaret Hall, of 38 Wellington Road North, with whom the deepest sympathy will be felt by many friends. Prior to his enlistment on 2 September 1914, Private Hall was employed at Bennett’s Doubling Mill, Manchester.

Two touching letters have been received by Mrs Hall, conveying the sad news, from Company Sergt-Major H. Atkin and Sergt. J. Gleave, both of B Company, to which the deceased belonged. The former in the course of his letter says, “the circumstances under which he gave his life for King and country were most unfortunate. He was employed in the front line, and at the time, I believe was cleaning his rifle, when a salvo of the enemy’s shrapnel burst right over our parapet, quite close to where your boy was standing. Unfortunately, he was badly hit and rendered unconscious immediately. Three others were hit at the same time. Your poor boy never regained his senses, and although he received every attention, he breathed his last about fifteen minutes later. He was given a Christian burial next day in a soldier’s little cemetery in the rear of the line. I may say that your boy was highly esteemed by both officers and his comrades; his quiet, unassuming manner endeared him to all. We miss him greatly, and I hope that the knowledge that he gave his young life in the cause we believe to be right in the name of God, King and country, will compensate you at least a little in your irredeemable loss.”

Sergt. Gleave says: “Poor Tom died a painless death. Believe me, he is deeply missed by us all, as he was always willing to do without hesitation that which was asked of him, and his place will be hard to fill in the section. I have been closely connected with him for twelve months and have always found him a good soldier and true to everything that is best. May God bless you and comfort you in your sorrow, and though the year has opened with sadness for you, may it brighten with the knowledge that your son deid a hero.”