Service Number 14651984 – 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
Eric was born in the Aston registration district during 1924 to parents Arthur and Edith May Hall (née Heath) who in 1939 were living at 807 Alum Rock Road.
During WW2 Eric was enlisted into the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry. In 1939 the Battalion went to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force, fighting during the withdrawal to Dunkirk and eventually being evacuated.
After four years in Britain it returned to France as part of the 53rd (Welsh) Division, landing in Normandy towards the end of June 1944 and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge in January 1945. The Allies pressed their advantage following the Battle and in early February launched an attack all along the Western Front.
The Division moved through the Reichswald Forest mid-February as part of Operation Veritable. The going was extremely bad with intermittent shelling, stiff opposition and snowfall. Continuing to push forward they had a successful attack on Pfalzdorf on February 16th. As the Division continued its’ advance Eric was killed on the evening of 24th February 1945 along with several of his battalion with over fifty wounded and thirteen recorded missing.
He is buried with his comrades at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, the memorial inscription read:
He gave his all for love of home and country, our deep and abiding love, Mom and Dad.
At the time of Eric’s death his parents Arthur and Edith were resident in Castle Bromwich. Eric is also commemorated at the war memorial at The Green, Castle Bromwich.
