174844 Pte. Joseph Edwin Halls Australian Imperial Forces C Coy. 33rd Btn. from:126 Brougham St, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW I was trying to research my grandfather who died at Arras in 1917 and I found his brother Joseph who was born in London, emigrated and then joined the Australian Imperial force in 1916.
I am amazed that Joseph survived the WW1 as he had a shrapnel wound to the head, an infected foot and had been gassed twice. Possibly some dysentry as well as he did have symptoms. He was hospitalised a few times and was also hospitalised in England 1st Southern General Hospital Birmingham. and eventually was medically discharged as being unfit in 1919.
I wondered about this man, did he ever marry, he was single when he joined up and only his father and sister in England as next of kin. I wondered if there were any children. Surely a man who fought in this terrible war deserved companionship. Again I was amazed, further research showed that Joseph had joined the army again in 1930 and giving a false younger age. This time he had a wife as a next of kin and it appears they married in the same year as being discharged. That made me feel happy. I still don't know if there were any children though. It seemed he lived until 1950 and died at age 66.
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