Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Hall of Silver Street, Whitwick, Leics., and the husband of J. A. Cresswell (formerly Hall) of 14, Leicester Road, Whitwick, Leics. Joseph was fatally wounded at Monchy au Bois, France. The War Diary entry for the 9th December 1915 records. TRENCHES, WEST OF MONCHY. Relieved the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT over the open. The first platoons started at 4.00am. The relief was completely successful, the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT got away by 6.30am. The rain continued and the trenches are in a sad state.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
: Coalville Times article - Friday December 31st, 1915

Whitwick Soldier Killed - Due to a mine explosion

News has been received in Whitwick that Lance-Corporal Joseph Aramathea Hall, of the 9th Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action in France through the explosion of an enemy mine on December 9th.

The deceased soldier was a son of Mr A. Hall, of Silver Street, Whitwick, a miner at the Whitwick pit, where Hall also was employed before enlisting. He was 22 years of age and was married, his wife and only child residing at the Dumps, Whitwick. He enlisted in November last year and went to France in July, having been made a lance-corporal.

A nice letter has been written to the deceased’s wife by the chaplain who officiated at Hall’s funeral on December 11th and another letter written by a comrade runs as follows:

“December 14th. – Dear Mrs Hall, I regret to write these few lines in regard to your husband’s death. All his comrades feel his loss very much as he was so popular with all the men of his platoon. The whole of the platoon send their deepest sympathy, as we know what a sad blow it will be to you. I am sending you these photos which were handed to me and I should like to ask if you have a photo of him you could send me, as I should like one in remembrance, as we have been great chums ever since he joined the army. He was buried in a cemetery in a village close behind the firing line, and we, his comrades, will see his grave is kept alright as long as it is in our power. I conclude with the deepest sympathy from all the platoon and myself, yours sincerely.”

12837 Walter Gould
B. Co. 9th Leicesters, 8th Platoon, B.E.F.

The photograph enclosed in the letter which was found on deceased were those of his wife and child.

Coalville Times article - Friday January 14th, 1916

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service was held in the Parish Church on Sunday evening for Pte. J. A. Hall, of the Leicestershire Regiment, recently killed in action, and whose wife and child reside at the Dumps, and his parents live in Silver Street, he being a former Whitwick collier. There was a large congregation, which included the Whitwick and Thringstone Citizen Corps under Commandant G. F. Burton, and the Boy Scouts. The Vicar (the Rev. T. W. Walters) gave an appropriate address and Mr R. West (organist) effectively played the Dead March.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 10/9/2017