Arthur C Hall

Arthur Charles Hall VC

Arthur Charles Hall was born at Granville, Sydney, New South Wales, on 11 August 1896. The eldest son of grazier Charles Hall and Emma Jane Hall, he was educated at All Saints’ College, Bathurst, before becoming an overseer on his father’s properties near Nyngan.

Hall enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Dubbo on 3 April 1916. Given service number 2631, he embarked for overseas service with the 6th Reinforcements of the 54th Battalion. After training in Britain, he joined the battalion in France on 8 February 1917.

Severely wounded in the leg on 30 March, Hall returned to his unit only three weeks later. He fought at the Second Battle of Bullecourt and Polygon Wood, earning promotion to lance corporal in June 1917 and corporal that October. In 1918, he served at Villers-Bretonneux and Morlancourt before taking part in the Allied offensive on the Somme.

During the 54th Battalion’s attack on Péronne on 1 September 1918, an enemy machine-gun post halted the Australian advance. Hall rushed the position alone, shot four of its defenders and captured nine others, together with two machine guns. He then crossed the objective with a small party and provided covering fire for the remainder of his company.

Continuing ahead of the main force, Hall located other enemy positions and personally led parties against them, capturing additional prisoners and machine guns. The following morning, under a heavy artillery barrage, he carried a dangerously wounded comrade to safety and immediately returned to his post.

For his courage and leadership on 1 and 2 September, Hall was awarded the Victoria Cross. His actions contributed substantially to the capture of Péronne. The official citation concluded that he had shown “utter disregard of danger and inspired confidence in all.” The complete citation is reproduced by the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs⁠.

Hall transferred to the 56th Battalion on 11 October 1918. He was promoted temporary sergeant on 6 March 1919 and retained that rank until his discharge in Sydney on 3 August. King George V presented him with the Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 10 April 1919.

After demobilization, Hall returned to the Nyngan district and purchased Gundooee Station near Coolabah. On 26 April 1927, he married Catherine Jessie Hemington Harris. They had three sons and one daughter.

During the Second World War, Hall returned to military service as a lieutenant in the 5th and 7th Garrison Battalions, Australian Military Forces. His Second World War service number was N387101. After the war, he resumed running sheep and developing a notable herd of Poll Devon cattle at Gundooee.

Hall served for twenty years as president of the Nyngan Picnic Race Club. He was also a foundation member and active competitor in the Coolabah District Rifle Club and participated in the Nyngan District Historical Society. In 1956, he travelled to London for the Victoria Cross centenary celebrations in Hyde Park.

Lieutenant Arthur Charles Hall VC died at Nyngan District Hospital on 25 February 1978, aged 81. He was buried in the churchyard of St Matthew’s Anglican Church at West Bogan, near Coolabah. The church had been constructed from timber cut and milled on his property. His Victoria Cross and other medals are held by the Australian War Memorial. Australian Dictionary of Biography⁠ and Australian War Memorial service record⁠.