David S. Hall (RFC officer)

For other people named David Hall, see David Hall (disambiguation).
David Sidney Hall
Born 1892
Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, Scotland
Died 20 November 1917 (aged 25)
Les Alleux, France
Buried at Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery, Saint-Omer, France (50°43′45.6″N 2°15′00.7″E / 50.729333°N 2.250194°E / 50.729333; 2.250194Coordinates: 50°43′45.6″N 2°15′00.7″E / 50.729333°N 2.250194°E / 50.729333; 2.250194)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1914–1917
Rank Captain
Unit Highland Light Infantry
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
No. 57 Squadron RFC
Battles/wars World War I
 • Western Front
Awards Military Cross

Captain David Sidney Hall MC (1892–1917) was a Scottish World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]

Biography

Hall was born in Grangemouth, the youngest son of William Hall of Helensburgh. He was educated at the Hermitage School, Dunoon Grammar School, and Hillhead High School, Glasgow, after which he worked in the office of the chartered accountants Paterson & Benzie. In October 1914 he enlisted into the 17th (Glasgow Commercials) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, as a private.[2] He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 9th (The Dumbartonshire) Battalion of the Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) regiment on 17 April 1915,[3] and was sent to France in July.[2]

Hall was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps with the rank of lieutenant on 1 December 1916.[4] After completing his pilot training he was posted to No. 57 Squadron in France, flying the DH.4 two-seater day bomber.[1]

He was appointed a flight commander with the acting-rank of captain on 18 June 1917.[5] On 27 July he and observer/gunner 2nd Lieutenant N. M. Pizey drove down an Albatros D.V out of control over Houthulst Forest,[1] though Pizey was killed in the action. Hall was then paired with Lieutenant Britton, who was wounded by "friendly fire" from a French SPAD over Ypres on 20 August.[6]

On 2 October, Hall, with 2nd Lieutenant Edward Patrick Hartigan, led a flight of five DH.4s on a bombing attack on the enemy aerodrome at Abeele. On their return they were attacked by Albatros D.V fighters[6] over Roeselare.[1] In the "confused" action that followed Hall and Hartigan claimed four D.Vs shot down, and probable hits on at least six others. Two DH.4s were shot down and their crews killed, and a third crash-landed in enemy territory, killing the observer, while the pilot was captured.[6]

On 26 November, following this action, Hall was awarded the Military Cross.[7] His citation read:

Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) David Sidney Hall, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and Royal Flying Corps.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While leading back his formation of five machines from a bombing raid he was attacked on eight different occasions by numerous enemy scouts. He himself shot down one in flames and another out of control, while his observer shot down two in flames. He has at all times, completed the task allotted to him, and set a splendid example."[8]

Hall and Hartigan drove down another D.V on 28 October, west of Roeselare.[1][9] On the morning of 20 November, the first day of the battle of Cambrai, they set off alone on a weather reconnaissance mission, but did not return. The wreckage of their aircraft was discovered later in the day near Les Alleux, Ardennes.[6]

Hall and Hartigan are buried together[6] in the Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery at Saint-Omer, France.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "David Sidney Hall". The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 Hillhead High School War Memorial Volume (PDF). Glasgow. 1921. pp. 144–145. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29137. p. 3927. 20 April 1915.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29902. p. 569. 12 January 1917.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30293. p. 9721. 18 September 1917.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Johnson, Alan (2006). "Luke and Edward Hartigan – Casualties of World War I" (PDF). The Old Limerick Journal (Winter edition): 6–12. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30399. p. 12319. 23 November 1917.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30614. p. 4215. 5 April 1918.
  9. ↑ "Edward Patrick Hartigan". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Casualty Details: Hall, David Sidney". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Casualty Details: Hartigan, Edward Patrick". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
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