Victoria Cross : Corporal Arthur Charles Hall, 54 Battalion, AIF

Victoria Cross. Engraved reverse suspender with recipient's details; reverse cross with date of action.

Arthur Charles Hall was born to Charles and Emma (née King) Hall at Granville, Sydney on 11 August 1896. Educated at All Saints' College Bathurst, Hall was working as an overseer on his father's properties near Nyngan NSW when he enlisted in the AIF, with his parents' consent, at Dubbo on 3 April 1916.

Posted as private 2631, reinforcement to 54 Battalion, Hall embarked aboard HMAT 'Ceramic' on 7 October, bound for England. He eventually joined his unit near Trones Wood, south east of Guillemont, France on 8 February 1917, in time for the Allied advance resulting from the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line later that same month. Hall was wounded in action on 30 March near Morchies and evacuated to hospital, rejoining his unit at Becourt on 21 April.

Promoted to lance corporal on 12 June and corporal in early October, Hall was evacuated to England suffering from 'trench fever' in January 1918. He did not rejoin his unit until 2 June 1918.

Three months later, during the battalion's operations at Peronne, Hall was involved in the action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. An eyewitness account of his exploits by the officer commanding Hall's company, Captain Reginald Downing, reads:

'At PERONNE on the 1st Sept Corporal Hall came under my notice many times. Before entering the town it was necessary to obtain accurate information as to enemy location in thick timber, which held a number of machine gun nests. Continuously under heavy fire the N.C.C. [non-commissioned officer] made very close reconnaissances. The information which he brought back was in all cases reliable, and contributed very largely to the success in this sector.

At the first enemy position he dealt with an enemy post shooting four of the defenders, and taking nine prisoners. Many of the N.C.O.s and men were witness to this gallant act.

On the morning of the 2nd I personally saw him carry a severely wounded man to a place of safety through an exceptionally heavy barrage, and immediately return to his post.

There were many great things done this day, but Corporal Hall's fine leadership, initiative and contempt of danger earned universal praise, and were a source of great inspiration to the men of his company.'

Hall returned to Australia on 26 June 1919. Following his discharge from the AIF on 3 August he purchased Gundooee Station near Coolabah. He married Catherine Jessie Hemington Harris at Lahey's Creek on 26 April 1927. During the Second World War, Hall served in garrison battalions in NSW and QLD, ending his service as a lieutenant in November 1943.

Hall died at Nyngan on 25 February 1978 and was buried in the family cemetery at West Bogan. A deeply respected member of the community, the road leading from Coolabah to Brewarrina has been dedicated in his memory as Arthur Hall VC Way.