No. 20188, Private, James HALLS
Aged 18
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Born in Lakenheath, registered Mildenhall Q3-1897 [4A:838].
1901 census... Aged 3, he was living at Sandpits, Lakenheath with his father Thomas HALLS [41] Barge waterman born Lakenheath; mother Eliza (née CHINNERY)[41] born Bury St Edmunds; brother Willie [16] helper on farm, born Lakenheath; brother Tom [13] stock feeder-cattle, born Bury St Edmunds; brother- George [11], born Bury St Edmunds; sister Nellie [10] born Bury St Edmunds; brother - John [8] born Lakenheath; sister- Annie [5] born Lakenheath; and brother Sargent [1] born Lakenheath. 1911 census...Aged 13, farm labourer, he was living at Station Road, Lakenheath. The census was completed with only initials. Present were Father T [51], a fishmonger; mother L [52];brother G. [21] (George?) a carpenters help; brother J [13](James?); brother J [17] (William James?); brother S [11](Sargent?) and sister A [15] (Annie). The record shows no children have died, but sister Ellen/Nellie is un-accounted for. Brother of George Walter HALLS. see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds. Dying of his wounds and not having found his Army records it is not possible to record when or where he was wounded. Wimereux was a base hospital area on the French coast between Calais and Boulogne. The 2nd Suffolks were in the Ypres Salient during February / March 1916, often in camp in the Poperinge area. The Bury Free Press of 26th October 1918 included the photograph below of the Halls brothers and reported:- PATRIOTIC LAKENHEATH FAMILY The photos are of the five sons and son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. T.Halls, of Sand Pits, Lakenheath, two of whom, we regret to state, have given their lives in their country's service. Thomas who is serving with the Connaught Rangers, has been wounded in 15 laces, and has served in Salonica, Palestine and France; George, who was a military reservist called up on the outbreak of war, and went to France with a Suffolk battalion in 1914, was killed in action after taking an active part in many engagements; James also has made the great sacrifice; John, also of the Suffolks, and one of the "Old Contemptibles" was sent to France in September 1914, and wears the Mons ribbon; the youngest son, a sergeant in the Buffs, is expecting shortly to be drafted abroad; while Corpl Russell Tuffs (son-in-law) went overseas on September 12th 1916 and is now engaged in railway work on the Western Front. We congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Halls on the splendid military record of their family, at the same time sincerely sympathising with them in the severe losses they have sustained. |
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