William Reid Hall

William Reid Hall was educated at Clifton School.

In the First World War he was a Captain in the Signals responsible for training new recruits. Following is an extract of his service from 'Memoirs of S.53' in 1918: Hall, Captain W.R., 2/1st Denbigh (Hussars) Yeomanry. Gazetted Second Lietenant, Oct 19th, 1914. Promoted Lieutenant, June 1st, 1915; Captain, May 1st 1916. Regimental Signal Officer, 1916 Brigade Signal Officer, 1916-17-18. Recreations: Riding, Shooting, Hunting, Fishing. Address: Toravon, Werneth, Oldham. "Pentre Ucha," Llanymynech.
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W R Hall Specialist Wireless Telegraphy Training Technical Knowledge-31-Jan-1918 LIEUT. (Acting unpaid Captain) W.R.Hall - age 25 Technical knowledge and Training. An engineer by profession with practical experience of pattern making, tool fitting, turning and milling also setting up and working electric motors and dynamos. He has a good knowledge of the working and mechanism of oil and petrol engines. He has been in Command of the 6th. Cyclist Bde. Signal Troop since 1st May 1916 and has had to superintend the erection of about 70 miles airline for Coast defence purposes. He has had experience in testing and localisation of faults with the Wheatstone bridge etc. A good theoretical knowledge of the Fullerphone also all the instruments with which this Brigade is equipped for Coast defence and other purposes. A slight knowledge of Wireless telegraphy and a thorough grounding in general electrical knowledge. He was educated at Clifton College 1903 - 1911 where he specialised in Chemistry, Physics and mathematics followed by six months in a French family near Blois.
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W R Hall Request to be posted overseas 14-Oct-1918 Copy From capt W. R. Hall Sir, I have the honour to request that you will forward this my application to proceed overseas at an early date by reasons for the regiment and as follows. 1) I was commisioned to the 2nd Denbighshire Yeomanry in Oct 1914 and signed to voluntary service overseas. When the first draft was called for I was not available being under instruction for signalling. Later I was seconded to comm. the 2nd work London Brigade Signal Section and for 2 years was emplyed on C.D. work between Berwick and L. by Sea. During this time I made three attempts to get over seas but all were unsucessful. 2) The above correspondence explains what brought me to the Training Centre. I am exceeding keen on wireless work and did not apply for the _ course owing to the delay in getting overseas which would be occasioned thereby.
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W R Hall Thanks from PM David Llyod-George 4-Jul-1921 10 Downing Street, London, S.W.1 4th July, 1921 Sir, I have much pleasure in personally thanking you and in conveying to you the thanks of my colleagues, for the services you have rendered during the recent national emergency. The readiness which you and others have shown in coming forward to defend the public was an effectual guarantee for the maintenance of law and order, and for the prerservation of the people from threatened privation and misery; it will be remembered with gratitude by all sections of the community. I trust that no further demand will have to be made on your services. If however, a fresh necessity should arise, I feel sure you will respond with no less public spirit and zeal than you have shown during the past crisis. I am, Sir Your obedient Servant, David Lloyd George Capt W R Hall T/Capt East Lancs Sigs (D.F.)
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After the war, He became an engineer and served as director of Platt Bros from 1924-62.

He was praised in the book 'Platts' by R.H. Eastham when he allayed the workers fears at a meeting in Oldham in the late 1940s stating that he was not in favour of the rumour to move all the textile machinery operations from Oldham to Barton.

On July 6th 1926 he married Alice Mary Goldie Macmillan who was born on 13th January 1902. They lived at Melyniog, Llansantffraid.

In the 1939 register, he was living at 189 Windsor Road, and occupation was works manager at munitions works. The other resident was Hilda Bradbury the head.

He received an MBE for apprehending an armed burglar. Below is the citation in the London Gazette, Tuesday, 21st April 1964: William Reid HALL, Llansantffraid, Montgomeryshire. Shortly after midnight a man armed with a shot gun climbed through the window of Mr. Hall's bedroom, woke him, and holding the gun a few feet from his head threatened to shoot him if he moved. Mr. Hall, although partially crippled, got out of bed as quickly as he could and attacked the intruder with a stick. The muzzle of the gun was knocked upwards and a scrimmage occurred during which the intruder was struck on his head and dazed. He calmed down somewhat and Mr. Hall managed to obtain possession of the gun. He immediately threw it from the window into the yard. His wife then telephoned the police. The burglar tried to get away by the window but Mr. Hall prevented him and kept him in conversation for some time until the police arrived.

References: http://www.stanwardine.com/melyniog_letters/name/William_Reid_Hall_...