John Kenworthy (Ken) Hall (SN 4412) was born in Ballarat but enlisted in Melbourne on May 29th 1915. The 27 year-old commercial traveller, who was living in Knowles Street, South Northcote, Melbourne, trained as an officer before leaving Melbourne with the 14th Battalion on board the Demosthenes in December. On arrival in Egypt he joined the 46th Battalion and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant before being transferred to France in June 1916, and promoted to Lieutenant in November.

He spent much of the next six months in hospital suffering from influenza and trench fever, followed by a period training as a signals instructor. He rejoined his unit in France in April 1918 but, at the age of 31, was killed in action on August 8th 1918, at Harbonnieres and is buried at Heath Cemetery in Harbonnières, France.

His medals and plaque were sent to his wife Cassie, whom he married during the war, and some of his personal effects were sent to his father, listed as J. Hall, Bootmaker in Ballarat.

Photo: Virtual War Memorial