1/6th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Thomas Raymond Hall was born in Gloucester in 1889: his parents were Thomas Raymond (a labourer) and Florence (a charwoman), who had four children by the time of the 1911 Census, of whom three were surviving.
According to that census, the family lived at 3 Sweetbriar Street, Gloucester and Thomas junior’s occupation was as a hairdresser. His sister Florence (age 20) a box maker and 18 year old Olgar a labourer.
Unfortunately no Army Service Record or Pension Record has survived for Thomas. However, we know from the Medal Roll kept at the Public Record Office that he initially served with the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, then the 14th Battalion and finally the 1/6th Battalion. According to the records for the Silver War Badge, which he was awarded after discharge, to indicate previous war service, he originally enlisted on 10 November 1914 and was discharged due to sickness on 5 August 1918, having served overseas. The nature of the sickness is not known, nor the cause of death.
Thomas died on 14 August 1919; he was 30 years of age. Following his death, he was interred in the Gloucester Old Cemetery, where a standard CWGC headstone now marks his grave. His name is listed on the Gloucester War Memorial but under the listing for the 1/5th Battalion.
His younger brother Olgar Horace (the CWGC Register shows his first name as ‘Olga’) also died in the war. Interestingly, surviving records show him to have originally joined the 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment as a Private (number 11549). However, on 7 October 1914 he was discharged as ‘not likely to become an efficient soldier’ — the reason behind this is not specified. However, Soldiers Died in the Great War shows him as being formerly in the Royal Field Artillery (number 86887) before joining the 5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. His Medal Index Card shows him first going overseas to the Balkans on 4 February 1915, however, this could be an error and it is more likely that it was in February 1916, to Mesopotamia. He either re-enlisted following his rejection by the Glosters or was conscripted, at a time when less stringent standards were applied. Olgar was killed in action on 5 April 1916 and has no known grave, his name being commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.
The CWGC Register for Thomas Raymond gives his mother, Mrs Florence Hall, 15 Hopewell Street, Gloucester as his next of kin. In 1924 the Gloucester Citizen carried a report that Thomas Raymond (senior) had died at 15 Hopewell Street, aged 63, from tuberculosis and liver disease. He had been living alone, having separated from his wife Florence.
Researched by Graham Adams 11 June 2019