Captain G Graham Hall

29 Aug 2008

Graham Hall was granted an emergency commission on 22 February 1941 and initially served with the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment).

He was made a War Substantive Lieutenant on 22 August 1942 and later volunteered for airborne forces.

He qualified as a military parachutist on course 82 which ran at RAF Ringway from 13 to 23 September 1943 in a cadre which comprised of 17 Officers and 100 Other Ranks. The course report records positive comments about the cadre; on the synthetic ground training it noted that: "A high standard was reached, particularly on exits.Landings and flight were well up to standard."  For the parachute jumps it noted: "Well above average. Men intelligent and keen, exits were excellent. Stick jumping was very good. Fast even sticks were obtained.". The instructors also noted that Lt Hall "was a natural parachutist and a good officer."

 He served in B Coy, 12th Parachute Battalion and fought with the Battalion in Normandy,1944.

The 12th Battalion captured Ranville despite its scattered drop on D-Day 6th June 1944 and held it against repeated German counter-attacks as well as relieving the glider borne elements at Pegasus Bridge. It fought around Breville and formed part of the break-out to the Seine with the 6th Airborne Division in August, after which it was returned to England.

The Battalion was engaged during the winter 1944-5 fighting in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge. It jumped on the Rhine Crossings during Operation VARSITY and continued with the Division advance across Germany to the Baltic.

After the war in Europe ended the 12th Battalion accompanied 5th Parachute Brigade to the Far East between 1945-6. In 1946 it returned to Palestine to rejoin the 6th Airborne Division, where the battalion was disbanded in July. It is believed that Captain Hall was demobilised when the battalion was disbanded.

 

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