| Regimental number | 702 |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria |
| School | State Schools, North Carlton, Victoria |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Instrument maker |
| Address | 146 Stanley Street, West Melbourne, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 20 |
| Height | 5' 5" |
| Weight | 116 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Joseph Hale, 146 Stanley Street, West Melbourne, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Served for 2 years in Senior Cadets, Area 64A. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 31st Battalion, C Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/48/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on |
| 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D sailed on two ships, HMAT A62 Wandilla, 9th November 1915 from Melbourne, and HMAT A41 Bakara, 5 November 1915, from Melbourne. It is not possible to tell from the Embarkation Roll on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 31st Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
| Age at death | 21 |
| Place of burial | Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot III, Row E, Grave No 9), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 118 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Joseph and Annie HALE, 146 Stanley Street, West Melbourne |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 7 December 1915. Embarked Aexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 25 June 1916. Reported missing, 21July 1916. Note on Form B103: 'German list received by Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau, Australian Branch, BRCS. Identification marks found on the Prisoner of War, are inspected by the General War Bureau and shown in the list as under DEAD.' Note on Form B103: 'Identity Disc received from Germany. No particulars were afforded except that Soldier was deceased. May now be reported "KILLED IN ACTION" 20/7/16.' Red Cross File No 1240410 has statement from 1087 Pte T.G. PERHAM (patient, No 2 Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport), 10 November 1916: 'On the night of July 19th he went over the top with me in the 1st wave at Fromelles. He was slightly wounded. We bandaged him up and he went on with us. We stopped at the first German line where we bombed the dug-outs and had a feed together. I then took some prisoners back and missed him when we came out of the dug-outs and don't know where he went. I afterwards went forwards and joined the others till we withdrew from the German lines.' Note on file: 'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.' Note on file: 'Disc received from Germany and forwarded to Next of kin 20.6.17.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated on the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France. |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, HALE Norman Arthur
Red Cross file 1240410 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
