Thank you very much indeed Maddie and WivenHoe.
Maddie. John Hall named his eldest son John Richard Hall (my grandfather 1895-1963), and my grandfather John Richard Hall named his eldest son Richard Hall (my Uncle 1919-), so the name Richard has been continued on, but, anything is possible. Certainly seems he is blurring his story concerning his birth place.
We always thought he was John R Hall, but all docs so far have just said John Hall.
Family legend is that John Hall, after leaving the army, ran a public house in England which still stands, some kind of tavern. I will see if I can find out if anybody knows a name and where.
He went to Western Australia in 1907, (he and wife and the children) and was listed as Gardener on the shipping record. The burial index shows his occupation as "soldier", though he was 82 apparently and long out of the army. I know he had a small orchard himself where they lived here (which was typical for the area at the time).
Something else is that my grandmother always referred to my grandfather (John's son John Richard Hall 1895 - 1963) when she was angry with him as "The Hun" which was an unusual name to give a man who had fought in WW1. The story is that she alluded to him having German or Austrian roots from his father's side. My father and his siblings thought this to be true but no proof of this has been found and it may be nothing.
One of my Uncles who is himself now 95 remembers him (John Hall 1857-1939) so he cannot have had a foreign accent or my Uncle would know it for sure.
Wivenhoe, thank you for looking at this also. The Attestment Date is Feb 5 1879 signed at London. Says on it "Joined at Portsmouth". In what Parish and in or near what Town and in what County were you born? "St Clements, London, Middlesex".
The original service number was 3496 which changes to 24977 later on. Though two service numbers it does all seems to match up timeline wise and there are references to his wife and children and India so it has got to be his record. His discharge was April 30,1903.
At discharge he was at Fort Rowner Gosport. The address he gave as intended residence was 7 Dorset Terrace, Tesswood Road, Millbrook Southampton CLR.
His army service history reads as follows :-
1.2.1879 to 30.6.1881 : Gunner, 7th Brigade, Royal Artillery.
1.7.1881 to 14.9.1881 : Gunner, 7th Brigade ..... now becomes.. 1st Brigade, Scottish Division.
15.9.1881 : Promoted - Acting Bombardier
15.5.1882 : Bombardier.
14.9.1883 : Promoted to Corporal
15.9.1883 : Commenced service in India.
14.8.1884 : Promoted to Sergeant. Plus Good conduct pay @ 2 pence.
19.10.1886 : Promoted to Battalion Staff Sergeant and Good conduct pay @ 3 pence.
14.6.1889 : Reverted to Sergeant at his own request. Then with 28 Batallion, Southern
Division.
13.5.1891 : Service in India finished.
1.8.1891 : Transferred to Waterford Artillery Division.
6.1.1892 : Transferred to Tipperary Artillery. Ireland.
7.1.1892 : Promoted to Company Sergeant Major.
3.6.1894 : Transferred to 2nd Hampshire Volunteer Artillery
30.4.1903 : Discharged as a Company Sergeant Major. Place of discharge was Fort
Rowner, Gosport.
Character reference on discharge papers - Conduct, Exemplary. Sober, Steady, Trustworthy and thoroughly reliable.
The other thing I have is an entry for Claims to Pension submitted to Chelsea Board. He retired to pension after 24 years 89 days army service. Pension number 41587.
That's it really.
Thank you again for looking at this. I really appreciate the assistance.
