Walter D'Arcy Hall
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Walter D'Arcy Hall, MC & Bar
(10 August 1891 - 22 January 1980) was a soldier, Unionist
Member of Parliament and hunter of game (big and small).
, son of Thomas Skarratt Hall. He was educated at Eton College
, Berkshire
and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
. He joined the 20th Hussars
in 1911.
During World War I
Hall was awarded the Military Cross
and Bar, and the Croix de Guerre
with Palm and Star. Perhaps his most gallant action occurred on 1 April 1918 when, with 138 men of the 20th Hussars
, he formed a dismounted company in support of the 4th Dismounted Battalion, leading them in a counter-attack against Rifle Wood near Domart-sur-la-Luce
. The wood was well defended, and the 20th suffered heavy casualties in the action. Nonetheless, Hall and his men captured the wood and held it until relieved by the infantry. For this and other dismounted actions by members of the 2nd Cavalry Division
, the Division was warmly praised by the Commander of 4th Army
, General Sir Henry Rawlinson
. For a period Hall was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps
as an observer.
Hall was elected Member of Parliament for the Welsh
constituency
of Brecon and Radnor
on 29 October 1924 but lost his seat at the 1929 general election
. He was re-elected for the same seat on 27 October 1931, serving until his retirement at the general election on 14 November 1935.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(10 August 1891 - 22 January 1980) was a soldier, Unionist
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament and hunter of game (big and small).
Biography
Hall was born in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, son of Thomas Skarratt Hall. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. He joined the 20th Hussars
20th Hussars
The 20th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. In 1922 it was amalgamated with the 14th Hussars to form the 14th/20th Hussars, later the 14th/20th King's Hussars.-History of the 20th Hussars:...
in 1911.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Hall was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and Bar, and the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
with Palm and Star. Perhaps his most gallant action occurred on 1 April 1918 when, with 138 men of the 20th Hussars
20th Hussars
The 20th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. In 1922 it was amalgamated with the 14th Hussars to form the 14th/20th Hussars, later the 14th/20th King's Hussars.-History of the 20th Hussars:...
, he formed a dismounted company in support of the 4th Dismounted Battalion, leading them in a counter-attack against Rifle Wood near Domart-sur-la-Luce
Domart-sur-la-Luce
Domart-sur-la-Luce is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D934 road, on the banks of the Luce, some southeast of Amiens.-Population:-History:...
. The wood was well defended, and the 20th suffered heavy casualties in the action. Nonetheless, Hall and his men captured the wood and held it until relieved by the infantry. For this and other dismounted actions by members of the 2nd Cavalry Division
2nd Cavalry Division (United Kingdom)
The 2nd Cavalry Division was a regular British Army division that saw service in World War I. It also known as Gough's Command, after its commanding General and was part of the initial British Expeditionary Force which landed in France in September 1914....
, the Division was warmly praised by the Commander of 4th Army
British Fourth Army
The Fourth Army was a field army that formed part of the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War. The Fourth Army was formed on 5 February 1916 under the command of General Sir Henry Rawlinson to carry out the main British contribution to the Battle of the Somme.-History:The Fourth...
, General Sir Henry Rawlinson
Henry Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson
General Henry Seymour Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson, GCB, GCSI, GCVO, KCMG , known as Sir Henry Rawlinson, Bt between 1895 and 1919, was a British First World War general most famous for his roles in the Battle of the Somme of 1916 and the Battle of Amiens in 1918.-Military career:Rawlinson was...
. For a period Hall was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
as an observer.
Hall was elected Member of Parliament for the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
constituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
of Brecon and Radnor
Brecon and Radnorshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Brecon and Radnorshire is a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Created in 1918, it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election; until 1997 its name was simply Brecon and Radnor.The Brecon and Radnorshire Welsh...
on 29 October 1924 but lost his seat at the 1929 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
. He was re-elected for the same seat on 27 October 1931, serving until his retirement at the general election on 14 November 1935.