13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Wilfred Hale was the fourth of six children born to Joseph and Caroline Hale of Chalford. Both were born in nearby Bisley, marrying in 1881. Wilfred was born in the last quarter of 1892 and baptised Wilfred George at St John the Baptist, France Lynch on 19 February 1893. Joseph’s occupation was given as ‘millhand’.
It would appear that Caroline died some months after childbirth, giving birth to Violet Maria on 9 June 1899. Violet was christened on 9 July 1899, a note saying deceased written under her Mother’s name. Caroline’s burial was on 18 September 1899.
At the 1901 Census, widower Joseph was living at Dark Lane, Chalford with his six children. He was employed as a stick worker. Eldest daughter, Lizzie, who was 19, gave her occupation as housekeeper.
In 1911 the family were still in Chalford. Joseph was working at the umbrella works as were three of his children including 18-year-old Wilfred.
No service records survive but thankfully there was a short obituary in the (undated) local paper, the Stroud News and Journal which provides some history. The website of The Great War and Chalford which featured three soldiers including Wilfred, who died right at the end of the war, quoted the following text: The gallant soldier was at work in Wales when war was declared and he joined the Welsh Fusiliers a week after the commencement of hostilities. He served with the Balkan Expeditionary Force for over two years. Then he was given leave and at the expiration of that, was sent to France where after seeing much fighting, was wounded in both thighs and sent to England for treatment. He recovered and was again despatched to France in October 1917. In September this year he was severely wounded in the head and brought to England – his death ensuing. Deceased’s only brother was unable to attend the funeral, he being on active service in Egypt. (I have been unable to trace any records for Wilfred’s older brother Gustavus, the brother referred to in the text.)
The Medals Roll for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers shows that Hale’s initial posting was with the 11th (Service) Battalion which was formed in Wrexham on 18 September 1914 and was placed in the 67th Brigade of the 22nd Division. They were in Seaford in Sussex before moving to Aldershot in June 1915, embarking for France three months late, the battalion moving to Marseilles, leaving for Salonika on 30 October arriving on 5 November 1915.
The Medals Roll shows Hale at the Machine Gun School – possibly after his leave following his return from Salonika. He then spent time at the Infantry Base Depot in France waiting for his posting to a front-line unit. Hale then joined the 13th Battalion.
The 13th Battalion was formed at Rhyl in September 1914 and had been in France since December 1915. Hale was wounded and returned to England. Once recovered he re-joined his unit. The War Diary for the 13th Battalion for September 1918 survives. The Battalion was involved in heavy fighting during the Battle for the Hindenburg Line, being relieved on the 19th of the month. The diary mentions snipers being very active. During the operation 12 men were killed and 44 wounded of which Wilfred was likely to have been one of those wounded.
Wilfred died on 30 October and was buried at St John the Baptist Churchyard, France Lynch on 8 November 1918. He has a CWGC headstone. The vicar had entered his name as William but adjusted/corrected this to Wilfred on 5 February the following year. He added that Wilfred died at the 1st Southern Hospital, Stourbridge from wounds received in action (he was 25). At the bottom of the page in the register, the vicar wrote: Armistice declared between England and Germany November 11th 1918. Laus Deo.
Researched by Helen Wollington May 2021