A fine Great War 1916 M.M. awarded to Lance-Sergeant J. W. Hall, 1/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (Territorial Force), who was seriously wounded at the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on 13 October 1915 and was later decorated for bravery in repulsing a German raiding party from his trench at Fonquevillers on 12 December 1916

Military Medal G.V.R. (1652 L/Sjt: J. W. Hall. 1/5 Linc: R. - T.F.) contact marks, nearly very fine £240-£280

M.M. London Gazette 19 February 1917.

John William Hall attested for the Lincolnshire Regiment in March 1914 and served with the 1st/5th Battalion (Territorial Force during the Great War on the Western Front from March 1915. On 13 October 1915 he attacked with ‘D’ Company on the far left of the 1/5th Lincolnshire’s attack on the Hohernzollern Redoubt near Loos: the casualties were extremely heavy, and of 23 officers who went into the action, 11 were killed and 11 wounded, of whom one subsequently died of wounds; 285 other ranks were reported killed or missing; and 175 wounded. Hall was one of the wounded, having suffered a gun-shot wound to his left forearm. He spent 6 days at No.18 General Hospital before being transferred to a Hospital Ship on 20 October 1915.

Upon his recovery Hall returned to France and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery on 12 December 1916 when he successfully confronted a German raiding party that had entered his trench. The official citation reads:
‘At Fonquevillers on the night of the 12 December 1916, this N.C.O. displayed great courage and initiative. On a sentry reporting that he had seen six Germans enter our trench, he immediately sent one man to his Platoon Commander for support and he, with Private Wilkinson, ran along the trench until they reached the party. They opened fire on the Germans, Private Wilkinson firing over Sergeant Hall’s shoulder, and cleared the trench, one German being killed and two wounded.’

The Battalion History by T. E. Sandall adds the further detail that they also obtained a valuable identification, as the dead man was found to belong to the 77th Reserve Infantry Regiment. Both Sergeant Hall and Private Wilkinson were awarded the Military Medal.