In Memory Of

HALL, KENNETH ESLER

Service Details
Age:
 31
Date of Birth:
 -0001-11-30
Service No:
 778193
Rank:
 Sergeant
Unit:
 44 Sqdn.
Regiment:
 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of Death:
 1941-12-17
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, Hampden Mk.I. AD868, lost over sea off French coast. He and his crew never returned from a bombing mission over Brest which was sent to try and destroy the German battleship, the Scharnhorst.
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 Panel 44.
Cemetery:
 RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Localitly:
 Surrey
Country:
 United Kingdom
Additional Information
Son of Gordon Esler Hall and Helena Hall; husband of Joan Hall, of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. Ken was educated at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth and was a noted runner - he was South African half mile champion and represented South Africa at that distance in the USA in the 1930's. He worked for the Mobil Oil Company in Cape Town and was transferred to Rhodesian as a relief but stayed on. He was with RAF 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron and was in the last Hampden that was 'lost' before the squadron was equipped with the Lancaster bomber. There is an Unknown Airman found 22 December 1941 buried in CAMARET-SUR-MER COMMUNAL CEMETERY, same cemetery as Kaschula who was on same flight. There is a 1 in 3 chance this is Hall.