George Hall

Killed in Action 24/10/1918 near St. Aubert at the Battle of the Selle (1st part of the Final Advance in Picardy)

The Battalion were part of the 61st (2nd South Midland) Division. George was Killed in Action just over 2 weeks before the Armistice at the Battle of the Selle, 17th - 25th October 1918. This was the 1st part of the Final Advance in Picardy, 17th October - 11th November 1918. The hardest-fought of the final offensive actions. First, Third and Fourth Armies exploited their success in breaking the Hindenburg Line by pushing on across the Rivers Selle and Sambre, recapturing Valenciennes and finally in liberating Mons, where it had all begun for the British Expeditionary Force more than four years before. By then the Germans were in full retreat. It took quite some months for the Division to be rebuilt, but once ready it played an important part in the final defeat of the enemy. It joined XVII Corps and took part in actions in October 1918 at Bois L'Eveque, Pommereuil, Bousies Forest and Vendegies-sur-Ecaillon. It pushed on, across the rivers Rhonelle and Selle and into the industrial area of Valenciennes. Vendegies-sur-Ecaillon was captured by the 19th (Western) and 61st (South Midland) Divisions on the 24th October 1918, after severe fighting. SEE PHOTOS x 21 FOR THE 61st BATTALION MACHINE GUN CORPS WAR DIARY OCTOBER 1918. The Battalion War Diary (4) states : "ST. AUBERT 24/10/1918 Casualties : 2/LT. BOYD C.W. (killed), Major GOODE F.J. (wounded), 5 O.R's (killed), 32 O.R's (wounded), Reinforcements : NIL". The Cemetery, which stands behind a roadside crucifix, was made by the 61st Division after the Battle. This is where George is buried along with 49 comrades. George was formerly with the Highland Light Infantry (37412). See photos for George's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone report x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, George's Pension Records x 4, Crucifix Cemetery, his former Regiment the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge and the Machine Gun Corps Cap Badge. George's grave inscription reads "GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN". Finally, see photos for the 61st (2nd South Midland) Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division George was with when he died) and Newspaper clippings x 3 (Coatbridge Express x 2 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1).