53781: Photograph of Lance Corporal Sydney Hall

My great, great uncle - he's the one holding the rifle in the centre of the photograph

Lance Corporal 14267 L. S. Hall, 8th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment, killed in action 11th November 1915, is buried in Menin Road South Military Cemetery.

The following is an extract from the offical regimental diary:

Railway Wood. Near Ypres 10th Nov 1915- Battalion marched out at 1.45pm. en route for RAILWAY WOOD east of Ypres. Halted at White Chateau outside Kruistraat for an hour & a half for tea prepared in cookers. Continued march arriving Menin gate at 6.15pm. Guides of 1st Btn The Buffs met Btn. here companies proceeded to relieve the former. Relief completed at 8.55pm without casualties though enemy were firing an considerable number of high explosive shells during the period. Casualties Nil.

11th Nov 1915 Communicating trenches in appalling condition. In partsmud and water waist deep. A1 trench, trench mortered in the morning. Firing on both sides very heavy. Dual between our bombers & enemys in the two adjoining craters in H20 D Company in A1 practically isolated in day time. Casualties for day- 1 killed 1 wounded.

My distant relative was the one killed