Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas Frederick Hall was born on the 9th October 1874 at Haughton Farm, Shifnal, Shropshire, England the 6th of 7 children and the only son born to his parents Thomas and Agnes Hall.  At age 15 Thomas immigrated to Australia with his family, arriving in Brisbane on the 23rd July 1889 on the SS Dacca.  Upon completion of his schooling Thomas went on to become a Pharmaceutical Chemist. 

On the 27th October 1896 Thomas married Annie Christina Wedd at Toowoomba QLD.  They welcomed their first child, Beryl in late June 1897 but sadly, she died 12 days later.  Their son Thomas was born in 1899 followed by Keith 1901, Marjorie 1902 and Joyce 1908.

Thomas was the manager of the London Pharmacy in Ipswich and in April 1910, he joined the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) Reserve and passed the school of instruction in 1910 and 1911.  He was still serving with the AAMC Reserve when he enlisted for WW1 on the 24th August 1914 aged 39.  His rank was Honorary Lieutenant Quartermaster and he was assigned to the 3rd Field Ambulance. 

Thomas proceeded to the Army Camp at Lytton initially then in early September 1914 he and the 3rd Field Ambulance (3rd FA) proceeded to Enoggera Camp in Brisbane and spent 3 weeks there before embarking on the HMAT Rangatira from Brisbane on the 25th September 1914.  They sailed on to Melbourne VIC and then to Albany WA, anchoring in King George Sound on the 25th October 1914.  Their ship was part of the 1st Australian Convoy consisting of 38 ships which sailed for England from WA on the 1st November 1914.  While enroute their orders were changed which saw them diverted to Egypt via Colombo, Aden and Port Said.  They arrived in Alexandria on the 9th December 1914 and entrained for Cairo arriving there the following day.  Thomas and the 3rd FA proceeded to Mena Camp and remained there till 28th February when they moved to the Kasr-el-nil Barracks in Cairo and embarked from Alexandria the following day on HMAT Malda bound for Lemnos Island.  They anchored in Mudros Bay, off Lemnos Island, on the 6th March 1915 where they remained for a month.  On the 7th April Thomas and the main body of the 3rd FA were transferred to HMT Wizam also anchored in Mudros Bay.  On the 24th April at 10.30pm they proceeded to Gallipoli and anchored off shore at Anzac Cove.  At 4.30am on the 25th April 1915 the first wave of the 3rd FA was landed...B Section.  Thomas went ashore in the second wave at 5am with Sections A and C under heavy shrapnel and rifle fire.  He remained at Gallipoli till mid-June 1915 when, as Quartermaster, he was sent back to Alexandria to take charge of the drivers, wagons and stores of the 3rd FA.  He disembarked at Alexandria on the 15th and proceeded to Mex Camp, a transport and holding facility on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.   

In early October 1915 he re-joined the 3rd FA at Gallipoli but was only there for 6 days before embarking for duty at Egypt on HMT Borda.  He disembarked at Alexandria on the 13th October and proceeded to Gabbari Camp “A” in Alexandria.  On the 22nd November 1915 Thomas was promoted to Honorary Captain Quartermaster.

Thomas was admitted to the Rest Camp in Alexandria on the 2nd January 1916 and remained there until the 26th when he proceeded to Tel-el-Kebir Camp and re-joined the 3rd FA who had arrived there on the 1st January after being evacuated from Gallipoli in late December. 

The whole 3rd FA embarked from Alexandria on HMAT Kingstonian on the 28th March bound for France.  On the night of the 30th they lost a man overboard.  My Grandfather served with Thomas in the 3rd Field Ambulance and the following is part of the entry he made in his diary for the 30th March 1916.

“At 9.15pm I heard the cry “Man Overboard!” and the steam hooter on the funnel made an awful din.  It appears that Fennell (Private P.E.R. 2252) walked in his sleep and walked over the rail.  The Sentry saw him and shouted.  We went full steam astern, lowered a boat and a buoy etc. but did not recover his body.  Continued on with the journey by 9.45pm.”

The Unit disembarked at Marseilles, France, on the 3rd April 1916 and entrained for northern France.  In mid-May the Unit moved to Sailly, 2.5 miles from the front.  They experienced heavy bombardment and heavy casualties in late May and early June.  Thomas went on 9 days leave to England in early June.  He re-joined his Unit on the 14th and on the 17th at 1.30am the Unit experienced a gas attack but there were no reports of injuries. 

Between June and late August the Unit moved frequently throughout northern France and then crossed the border into Belgium for September and early October before returning to France, arriving in mid-October at the “Y” Corps Rest Station at Buire.  In the early hours of the 11th November 1916, the Rest Station was bombed by the enemy causing damage and the deaths of 5 patients and 1 of the staff outright.  Two more staff died from wounds with 3 others being wounded and evacuated.  The following entry is recorded in the Unit diary:

“At 00.40 this morning an enemy aeroplane flying low, dropped 6 bombs on the 1st Anzac Rest Station.  Five patients were killed outright, thirty three wounded more or less seriously and three slightly.  Of the personnel at this station one was killed, four seriously wounded and one slightly wounded.  All of these belonged to No. 3 Australian Field Ambulance.  One bomb was dropped on the Orderly Room, destroying a number of the records of the station and of the unit.  Damage was done to four marquee tents and eight bell tents.  The distinguishing lamps were burning brightly at the time the attack was made.” 

The Unit moved to the Advanced Dressing Station at Bernafay Wood in early December.  By mid-February 1917 they had made their way to Millencourt where the 1st Australian Divisional Rest Station was situated.  They remained there till early April when they moved to Avesnes-Les-Bapaume.  Thomas took 5 days leave to Paris in late May then in late July took 2 weeks leave to England.  He re-joined his Unit at Vieux Berquin and was promoted to Honorary Major Quartermaster on the 1st September.  Two weeks later Thomas and his Unit were at Wippenhoek, Belgium, involved in the 3rd Battle of Ypres on Menin Road from the 20th-25th September. 

On the 20th September Thomas was recommended for, and awarded, a Mention in Despatches for his service to his Unit.  The following is the wording of the recommendation:

“During the period 26th February 1917 to date, Captain Hall has carried out the duties of Quartermaster of the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance.  During this period he showed great devotion to duty and rendered most valuable service, especially in connection with the operations of the Unit during this time which include evacuation from the Lagnicourt, Doignies offensive and counter offensive in April, and operations at Bullecourt in April and May 1917.  During the whole period his unremitting energy, his wide knowledge and sound judgement were constantly at the service of the Unit and most materially assisted in its efficiency.” 

Thomas was recommended for 3 other awards but they were never awarded.  One was for an award in March 1917, the nature of which is not stated in his records.  The second was another Mention in Despatches in March 1918 and the third was for the Distinguished Service Order also in 1918. 

In mid-December 1917 the Unit arrived at the Divisional Rest Station at Locre.  They remained there till the end of January 1918 then moved to Grand-Sec-Bois.  In early March they moved from there to the Advanced Dressing Station at Voormezeele.  A few days later Major General H B Walker, the General Commanding Officer of the 1st Australian Division, inspected the troops.  A week later General Birdwood presented 8 men from the 3rd FA with Military Medals for their actions in the Menin Road Battles in September and October 1917.  The unit moved several more times over the next few months and moved again on the 6th August, arriving at Amiens the following day.  Thomas left on the 6th but he didn’t go with his Unit.  Instead he took leave for 3 weeks.  He re-joined them in late August at Hamel. 

On the 3rd October 1918 Thomas was one of the 24 men from the 3rd FA to be given “Anzac or Special Leave”.  This was a privilege given to men who had been early 1914 enlistments and who were still on active service.  As a sign of their status they were given an “Anzac Leave” rosette to wear on each shoulder of their uniform.  Thomas proceeded to Flexicourt and then to Taranto, Italy, where he commenced his journey home on the 8th October 1918.  He then proceeded to Suez, Egypt, where he embarked on HMAT Port Sydney arriving in Melbourne on 2nd December.  He then proceeded to Queensland to his home in Ipswich.  He was discharged on the 3rd February 1919. 

Some of his achievements in the years following the war were...Chairman of St George’s Society, manager of Friendly Society Dispensary in Ipswich and he later opened his own pharmacy on Brisbane Street in Ipswich.

Thomas died on the 22nd July 1954 aged 79.  His funeral was held on the 6th August at St Paul’s Church of England in Ipswich and he was laid to rest at the Ipswich General Cemetery QLD. 

Thomas is commemorated on the Great War Roll of Honour which is found at the Ipswich Soldiers Memorial Hall in Nicholas Street, Ipswich QLD. 

Thomas Frederick Hall was awarded for service in WW1...1914/1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Anzac Commemorative Medallion.

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 11th March 2022.