Roy Edgar Hall DCM (1913 - 1987)

Biography

Roy Edgar Hall DCM was born on 12th July 1913 in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. ^[1] He was the son of John Michael Hall and Lilley Tomlinson, however the birth registration has both Hall and Tomlinson as his surname. ^[2] No subsequent marriage between the two has been located in New South Wales, South Australia or Queensland.

Roy married Mavis unknown. ^[3] They made their home in Cloncurry, Queensland.

On 7th August 1941 at Cloncurry Roy transferred from the Commonwealth Military Force (defence within Australia only) to the Second Australian Imperial Force (authorised to serve overseas) and was allocated to the 2/1st Infantry Battalion, ^[1] joining his unit in Palestine (Israel) in time for its return to Australia (via a three month hiatus garrisoning Ceylon (Sri Lanka) against possible invasion by the Japanese. The battalion arrived back in Australia in July 1942, however, was soon speeding north to help stem the Japanese on the Kokoda Track, Papua. Successful, the battalion continued to chase the Japanese to the northern coast of Papua, to the beachheads of Buna, Gona and Sanananda. Mission complete, they returned to Australia, to North Queensland, and trained, trained, trained. Their final campaign was at Aitape-Wewak, New Guinea from January to August 1945; 'rounding-up' 100,000 fanatical Japanese soldiers who had been left to rot on this Australian territory without any means of transport away. ^[4] Following the Japanese surender, the battalion members were gradually repatriated home, Roy being demobilised on 17th January 1946. ^[1]

As a Warrant Officer Class Two, Roy was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for 'soldierly skill, coolness and courage at Nambut Peak on 17th February 1945'. ^[5][6] He was also awarded the campaign and service medals: 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945 and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945. He had attained the most senior non-commissioned rank, that of Warrant Officer Class One, the rank held by Regimental Sergeants Major. ^[1]

Aged 73 years, Roy passed away on 1st February 1987 in Queensland. ^[7]

Research note

A Roy Edgar Hall married a Nancy May Graham in 1948 in Emmaville, on New South Wales' New England Tableland near Glen Innes. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: QX38356 (Q36365) Warrant Officer Class One Roy Edgar Hall; accessed 22 May 2021
2. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #34427/1913; lists both Tomlinson and Hall as surname but only records mother, Lilley
3. ↑ was listed as next-of-kin on enlistment records
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 22 May 2021
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): Distinguished Conduct Medal; accessed 22 May 2021
6. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Distinguished Conduct Medal; accessed 22 May 2021
7. ↑ Queensland Death Index #1987/1223; lists his parents as John Michael Hall and Lilly Tomlinson with year of birth 1914
8. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #10848/1948