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William Charles Hall of Newtonards, County Down, married Olive O’Grady Roche, daughter of Sir Standish Dean O’Grady Roche and his wife Lady Mary, of Aghade Lodge, Ballynoe, County Carlow.
At the time of the 1901 census, 34-year-old William was a captain in the reserves. The bachelor was visiting his future wife Olive, then aged 23, and her parents at Aghade Lodge.
See also the 2025 interview with Sir David O’Grady Roche, son of Sir Standish O’Grady Roche, 4th Baronet of Carass in Limerick.
DOUBLE BOMBING FATALITY
Sad Affair at an Ulster Camp
Further details are now to hand regarding the melancholy bombing accident which occurred on Monday afternoon at Newtownards military camp, which resulted in the instantaneous death of a corporal named Parker, and subsequently the death from injuries of Major William Charles Hall, while two other officers—Second Lieutenants Hull and Corry were seriously injured.
About thirty men of the Rifles were out at the bombing pits, engaged at the usual practice, their instructor being Lieutenant Hull. Major Hall and Lieutenant Corry were interested spectators in a waiting bay near by.
Corporal Parker had stepped forward, and, bomb in hand, was preparing to throw, when there was a deafening report, the deadly missile actually exploding in the man’s hand. Needless to say, the corporal was shockingly injured, and death in hie case must have been instantaneous.
Lieutenant Hull, who was standing close to Parker, was carried off his feet, and sustained injuries which rendered him unconscious. How he escaped death is miraculous. Major Hall and Lieutenant Corry, in the waiting bay, were struck by flying splinters and injured.
At the time of the tragedy, they had been looking towards the spot where the bomb was expected drop, and, therefore, the first intimation they received of the mishap was when they were stricken down by the shattered missile. The alarm was raised, and willing assistants were promptly on the spot, everything possible being done for the injured. All were carried by stretcher parties into the hospital, and, while a glance was sufficient to show that poor Parker was beyond human aid, the wounded officers were placed under the care of Dr. Jamison, medical officer of the camp.
Subsequently, it being recognised that the officers had been seriously wounded, it was thought advisable to transfer them to the military hospital at Victoria Barracks, Belfast, but on the arrival of the ambulance only Lieutenants Corry and Hull were considered fit enough to undertake the journey, Dr. Jamison announcing that Major Hall’s condition was so critical that it prevented his being removed. Dr. Moore, of Belfast, arrived at the camp later in the evening, but, despite the skill of his attendants, the major passed away about eleven o’clock. Major Hall belonged to Narrow Water, Warrenpoint, and was well known in the Northern province. Lieutenants Corry and Hull are both Belfastmen.
A pathetic feature off the tragedy is that Parker, who was a native of London, and was only invalided from the front recently, was actually “down” for leave on Tuesday, and wrote a letter home on the previous morning informing his relatives of his coming. Unhappily, Fate had so ruled that an official wire with tidings of his death should overtake that cheerful Christmas message.
EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. On Tuesday Dr. K. H. Sproule, Coroner tor the district, held an inquest at the camp touching the deaths Major Hall and Corporal Parker. District Inspector J.T. Wallace represented the police authorities. Colonel R. H. Wallace, officer commanding deceased’s’ battalion, gave evidence of identification in the case of Major W. C. Hall, whom he had known for about forty years. The colonel stated that he was in Belfast when the accident occurred, but a message sent to him. He returned at once to the camp, and was at the bedside of Major Hall when he died. The major, who was about 52 years age, was his second in-command. He had previously served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
A graphic description of the accident was given by Lance-Corporal Victor Donaldson who was an eyewitness of the tragedy.
Witness, who gave formal evidence of identification in the case of Parker, staled that on the previous day he was present at the bombing pits, where about 30 men were engaged at bombing practice. Second Lieut. Hull was instructing the men, and standing with him were Major Hall and Second Lieut. Corry. The officers were standing behind sand-bag parapet, and Corporal Parker was carrying out his practice. He threw one bomb which went all right. Parker lifted a second bomb, and witness, who was standing about 12 yards away, saw him pull out the pin and swing his arm as if to throw the missile. Parker’s hand was above his head when there was a deafening report as the bomb exploded. The corporal immediately fell, as did also Major Hall and Second Lieut. Hull, while Second Lieut. Corry staggered across the trench holding his throat. Dr Jamison, the medical officer, was summoned, and everything possible was done for the injured men. Witness, replying to the foreman of the jury (Mr. J. M’Cutcheon), said Corporal Parker was no novice at bomb-throwing, He had been the front where he must have thrown hundreds of such missiles. When a bomb was thrown usually five seconds elapsed before the explosion.
Corroborative evidence was given Rifleman Samuel Baillie, who was also a member of the bombing party in question.
Dr. Edmund Jamison, medical officer at the camp, stated that the previous afternoon he had been called to the scene of the accident, and on arrival at the bombing pits he found Second Lieutenant Corry lying on the ground bleeding from wounds in the neck and chin. Witness stopped the haemorrhage, dressed the wounds, and had the officer removed to the camp hospital. Witness next examined Corporal Parker, and found life extinct. The corporal had received several shrapnel wounds, the fatal one being behind the right ear, and had penetrated the brain. The fingers of the right hand had been badly lacerated, there were two wounds in the right forearm, a small puncture on the body, a wound on the shoulder, and also two at the back of the neck. In the witness’s opinion death was due to laceration of the brain by a piece of shrapnel. In the meantime Major Hall and Second Lieutenant Hull had been conveyed to the hospital, and when witness went there he examined the officers. Major Hall was suffering from internal injuries, haemorrhage, and shock. A piece of shrapnel had penetrated his chest and curved downwards towards the abdomen. He had also received wound on the knee and one on the right forearm. The Major’s condition was extremely critical, and as the other officers had also been seriously injured. Dr. Warmock was summoned, and later Surgeon Moore was brought from Victoria Barracks Military Hospital. Major Hall died about 11 p.m., the cause of death being internal injuries, haemorrhage, and shock. Second Lieut. Hull had received a shrapnel wound on the left arm, an injury to the left eye, and a rather serious shrapnel wound in the neck. He had also a number of scalp wounds. Lieuts. Hull and Corry had been conveyed to Belfast Military Hospital and witness feared their condition was extremely critical.
The mechanism of a grenade was described in detail to the jury by Captain F. H. Clapham [Clapean?], district bombing officer, who said the premature explosion in the present case might have been due to a variety of causes. The accident could not have happened through carelessness at the bombing ground. The explosion might have been due to a defect in the fuse or in the grenade itself. An official inquiry was pending. Colonel Wallace expressed his own and the battalion’s sympathy with the relatives of the deceased. The fatality had cast a cloud of gloom over the entire and officers and men deeply regretted the occurrence. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and the foreman expressed their deep sympathy with the relatives, … with which the Coroner and the District Inspector associated themselves.
Dublin Daily Express, 20 December 1917
THE ARDS EXPLOSION – LATE MAJOR HALL’S CAREER.
Major William Charles Hall, Royal Irish Rifles, who, as announced in another column, has lost his life as the result of a bomb explosion at Newtownards, belonged to a well-known North of Ireland family. He was the second son of the late Major William James Hall, R.A., Narrow Water, Warrenpoint, and was uncle of Capt Roger Hall, MC., the present owner of the beautiful castle overlooking the waters of Carlingford.
Born in 1866, Major Hall entered the Army early in life, serving for many years in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He retired from that regiment in 1902, passing into the Reserve of Officers. During his service with the colours Major Hall took part in the Hazarn expedition of 1901.Major Hall was keenly interested in the Ulster Volunteer Force, of the Headquarters Staff of which his brother, Major Frank Hall. R.A. (now of the War Office) was military secretary.
When the Ulster Division was formed, deceased was appointed to the East Belfast Regiment, with which he served at Ballykinlar. When it was decided to establish reserve formations in connection with that division Major Hall was appointed second in command at Colonel Wallace’s battalion, and he served under that officer until his death, most of his service being spent at Newcastle, where he was very highly esteemed. It was a disappointment to him that he could not remain with his original battalion, but he was not passed for general service. He, however, rendered most valuable service for over two years in the training of recruits for the Division overseas, thousands of men parsing through his hands in the different Ulster camps where he was stationed. Major Hall was married in 1901 to Olive Edith Kathleen, daughter of Sir Standish O’Grady Roche, Bart., of Carass, Limerick, and is survived by his wife and two daughters. He was a member of the Church of Ireland, and a Unionist in politics. His eldest brother, Major Roger Hall, DL, of Narrow Water, died last year, and his younger brother, as already mentioned, is employed in the War Office as a General Staff officer in the Department of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff.
Belfast Telegraph, 18 December 1917