Hall, Ralph Henry
6767 Private Ralph Henry Hall - 2nd Division Train
Ralph Henry Hall was born in Geraldton WA on the 20th December 1894 to Elizabeth and Ralph Hall. He was one of five siblings born into the family.
In the early 1900's the family moved to the Fremantle region and took up residence in John Street North Fremantle before moving to Adrian Street East Fremantle/Palmyra. Ralph completed his education in Fremantle.
He then took up training as an apprentice baker with the company Fould and Regan in Fremantle. This apprenticeship last for three years, after which he began working as a baker. Ralph had also served in the 11th Australian Infantry Regiment of the Citizens Military Forces for two years.
On the 16th December 1914 Ralph enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Melbourne Victoria. He was passed as fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording Ralph's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 8 inches tall;
Weight - 126lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-35 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Hazel;
Hair - Fair.
Upon his successful enlistment Ralph was sent to Broadmeadows Army Camp where he was assigned to No.13 Field Butchery and Bakery Company Australian Army Service Corps. However he was then transferred to the 6th Reinforcements to the Australian Divisional Train. This group embarked from Port Melbourne on the 29th June 1915 aboard the transport shop HMAT Berrima.
The ship then set sail for Egypt where on arrival Ralph was sent to No.3 Company Australian Service Corps where he was promoted to the rank of Driver. It doesn't appear that Ralph reached Gallipoli, having to spent the remainder of the year with his unit in Egypt. In December 1915 his unit was sent to support the Western Frontier Force in Egypt.
On the 26th December 1915 he was sent to the 15th General hospital ill with a Hernia. He spent a few weeks there before being transferred to the 1st Australian General Hospital in Cairo. His stay was lengthened by having contracted venereal disease.
On the 14th February 1916 Ralph was released from hospital and was sent to the Australian Army Service Corps details camp. On the 16th March 1916 he was transferred to No.21 Company AASC 4th Division Train.
On the 7th June 1916 Ralph and his unit left Egypt and proceeded to France, disembarking at Marseilles on the 13th June 1916. The men were then entrained north for the Armentieres region of Northern France. They were here for a few weeks before heading to the Somme battlefield.
While not in the front line, Ralph would have been under long range German artillery fire as he helped take supplies to the units at the front line.
In August 1916 he was transferred for duty to the 4th Australian Base Depot Camp at Le Havre. On the 24th October 1916 he was sent to the 26th General Hospital at Etaples where he was diagnosed with venereal disease. He also had a recurrence of the Hernia.
Ralph was then shipped to England where he was admitted to the 2nd Western General Hospital. He was there for the next few months recovering from his ailments. On the 7th March 1917 Ralph was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. He spent five days there and was then given a two week furlough.
After reporting back to camp Ralph was sent to No.3 Command Depot Camp at Wareham. He spent the next few months in different camps in England and was then sent back to France on the 20th June 1917.
He was now assigned to the 2nd Australian Division Train which was a supply unit.
On the 5th October 1917 while on duty Ralph was wounded by shrapnel and was sent to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne. He had three days here and was then shipped to England, where, upon arrival, Ralph was admitted to the Canterbury Military Hospital. He spent a week here receiving treatment and was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.
Ralph remained here till the 9th November 1917 when he was released and was given a two week furlough. On the 23rd November 1917 he reported into No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.
Due to his wounded right hand Ralph was being sent home. On the 1st February 1918 he boarded the hospital transport ship Balmoral Castle and set sail for home, arriving in Fremantle on the 18th March 1918. He was discharged from the AIF on the 18th July 1918.
After the Great War Ralph returned home to Adrian Street and found employment with the Fremantle Harbour Trust. However he soon returned to his Baking trade.
On the 21st May 1940 Ralph enlisted into the Australian Army. He lowered his age by six years, stating that he was born in 1900, not 1894. Ralph was accepted for service and was given the service number WX3154 and was then assigned to the 2/7th Field Ambulance. However his real age was discovered and he was discharged as having made a false statement upon enlistment.
After being discharged, Ralph enlisted again, stating that hew as born in 1895, so still not stating his real age. He was accepted for service with the Australian Army within WA. He was given the new service number W29363. Ralph was posted to the 5th Garrison Battalion, serving around the coast in the Perth area before being sent to the Harvey region. He was then transferred to No.11 Work Company in Harvey. Ralph was discharged from the Army in March 1941.
Ralph married Dorothy Cooper in 1941 and a son John was born in 1943.
Ralph Henry Hall died on the 10th January 1963 in Harvey aged 68. He was buried in Harvey Cemetery Grave B3-4.