The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Hall
First Name:
Douglas Charles John
Nick Name:
Doug
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX10370
Classification:
Driver
Company:
‘B’ Company, No. 8 Platoon.
Enlisted:
18.12.1940
DOB:
23.02.1919
Place of Birth:
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Algernon William John Hall
Mothers's Name:
Kathleen 'Rose' Hall (nee Leather)
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Truck Driver
Memorial:
Kranji War Cemetery, Plot 2, Row C, Grave 5, Age 25.
Singapore:
Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi, Sarangoon Road Camp, Sime Road Camp
Force:
'H' Force Thailand Group No. 3
Camps Thailand:
Malayan Hamlet, Kanu II, Kanchanaburi
Cause of Death:
Septic Thrombosis
Place of Death:
Australian General Hospital at Roberts Barracks Changi
Date of Death:
21.05.1944
Buried:
A.I.F. Cemetery Changi, Grave No. 134

General Description

Doug enlisted December 1940 and joined 2/4th’s ‘B’ Company as a Driver.  During the fighting at Singapore he was wounded at West Mandai, however recovered.
In 1943 he was selected with ‘H’ Force Thailand, Group 3 to work on Burma-Thai Railway leaving Singapore by rail early May 1943.
Please read further about ‘H’ Force Thailand.
Returning with ‘H’ Force from Thailand Doug was evacuated to AGH Roberts Barracks with septic thrombosis pyaemia of the right iliac vein. He was operated on three times,  the last time about a week before he died, to remove his left hip which had become diseased.  As well there were indications of stones in his kidneys and abscesses on his lungs.  Doug had been ill for some 4 weeks, his weakened body unable to continue his fight. Tom Bunning visited him.
He died during the morning of  21.5.1944 and was buried at 1430 hours. He was 25 years of age.  The funeral service was conducted by Chaplain M. K. Jones from 8th Division Headquarters. Captain Tom Bunning wrote that he was buried with the greatest possible approach to full Military Honours and on the sounding of the ‘Last Post’ all within earshot stood to attention in respect of him.
EPSON MFP image
D C J Hall
Hall Doug West Australian 8 October 1946

 

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Doug was the only son with two sisters born to parents Algernon William John Hall known as ‘Billy’ and Kathleen Rose Leather. Known as ‘Rose’ she was an only child.  Her mother died in 1909 in Kalgoorlie.

 

The couple married Jan 1912 and lived Kalgoorlie until later his mother moved to Mt. Hawthorn possibly around the time of Doug’s father’s death in 1923.  Doug was living at Mt. Hawthorn when he enlisted, working as a truck driver.
Below:  Rose Hall’s widowed father died Dec 1914.  We do not know whether her husband Billy Harris had enlisted by this time, or would do so later.

 

 

Billy Harris enlisted WW1, joining 11th Battalion Serial No. 7004.  In December 1917 he was reported being seriously ill for the second time.

Bill Hall returned to Australia ill, suited to service in Australia only.  He was discharged November 1918.
In September 1923, Billy Hall died at Woorooloo Sanatorium aged 41 years which was very young –  his illness was related to his service in WW1.  When he died his son Doug was 4 years old.

Please read further

 

 

 

You can read some 11th Battalion stories.

 

Doug’s mother ‘Rose’ Hall died in 1982 aged 90 years.

 

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Serangoon Road Camp - Singapore
  • Sime Road Camp - Singapore
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