Harold Kenneth Hall was born on the 17th October 1916, his birth is registered at Stoke on Trent. He was the ninth and youngest child of Sydney Hall  born 18.05.1878 in Burslem Staffordshire and Annie Blanche Née Kettle  born 09.02.1873  Stoke on Trent. 

Harold Kenneth Hall's parents married in the first quarter of 1900 in St Lukes Tittensor, Staffordshire. 

The 1901 census shows Sydney and Annie living at 19 St James St Stoke on Trent, Sydney is working as an Artist Potter, Annie has 5 month old Lucy Constance and her widowed mother Sarah Kettle aged 54 is also living with them working as a pottery paintress. 

Annie's father William Kettle died in 1879 aged 34 leaving Sarah with two young daughters , Elizabeth and Annie , William had worked in the potteries as a warehouse man and Sarah a paintress, the 1881 and 1891 census shows Sarah continued to work as a paintress and by 1891 both Elizabeth and Annie Blanche were also working as pottery workers paintresses.

The 1911 census shows  Sydney and Annie are living at 1 Gladstone Street, Longton, Stoke on Trent. Sydney worked as a Potter artist decorator. It isn't clear if Annie is working, she has children Lucy, Phyllis, Jessie and Dorothy, the census shows that she had had six children but at this point only four survived. 

Annie's mother Sarah is still living with the family aged 64 and still working in the potteries as an enameller. 

1921 census provides the following:-

Sydney Hall  - Potters Artist working for Messrs Doulton Nile Street Burslem 

Annie Blanche Hall Domestic duties 

Lucy Constance Hall born 15.10.1900 working as a grocers assistant at Halls Store Longton. 

Phyllis Blanche Hall born 03.07.1902 working as a milliners assistant Amos’s Longton 

Jessie Hall  born 19.09.1904. Burslem worked as a grocers assistant at Halls Grocery Longton. 

Dorothy Hall born 24.06.1908  Longton

Sydney James Hall born 11.09.1911 Longton

Marjory Noreen Leah Hall born 19.02.1915 Longton

Harold Kenneth Hall born 17.10. 1916  Longton

( Unable to find records of Sarah Kettle after 1911 ) .

An Article in the Sentinel newspaper dated 1928 “Betley Licensing Prosecution case stopped by magistrates and dismissed “ describes Sydney Hall as licensee of the Swan Inn Betley of more than five years alongside his job as Artist. Whilst he worked in the potteries his wife Annie Blanche and daughter Jessie ran the establishment which was described as a catering house. Annie Blanche Hall was accused of selling intoxicating liquor out of hours , it seems in spite of being a most suspicious case and the police sergeant providing fair evidence,there was insufficient evidence to secure a conviction . 

1939 Register and family beyond.

At the time of the 1939 register Sydney Hall was working as a Potter's Artist and Annie Blanche was a housewife living at 242 Liverpool Street with their youngest daughter Marjory Noreen Leah who was working as a Hotel Clerk.  

Sydney Hall of 242 Liverpool road Cross Heath Newcastle under Lyme died 19.09.1952 aged 74  probate sees him naming his son Sydney Hall engineer and daughter Phyllis Blanche Carson wife of the late Herbert David Carson. His estate was £7602.19s.3d. 

Sentinel newspaper reports Annie Blanche Hall died 14.01.1954 in Ripon, Yorks aged 82 the beloved wife of the late Sydney Hall. 

At the time of the 1939 register Lucy Constance was living at 384/ 41 Liverpool road ,Cross Heath Newcastle under Lyme with her husband Thomas Wood, Pottery Manager married (1925). In 1942 Lucy was involved in a road traffic accident, where she was a passenger in a car that collided with an army troop carrier lorry , her death certificate shows she died of shock as a result of this accident, however the sentinel newspaper reports she died instantly. 

Her husband Thomas Wood  was Captain in the Royal Artillery and Master Potter. Address at time of death was 5 Court Lane Wolstanton,. 

At the time of the 1939 register Jessie was living at 384/42 Liverpool road Cross Heath Newcastle under Lyme with her husband Eric G Walsh, first cashier of Westminster bank Market Drayton. Married 1930.  On 25.10.1941 Jessie died of colon cancer at her sister's address of 5 Court Lane Wolstanton.  Eric Gérard Walsh born 17.03.1904 St Helens Lancs, enlisted in the REME as a clerk 28.95.1942 and was discharged at the end of his service in June 1946. 

At the time of the 1939 register Phyllis Blanche Hall and  Herbert David Carson can be found living at 203 Sowerby Road Bridlington Herbert worked as a road construction engineer Their marriage was registered in 1943 in Cambridge. Herbert David Carson died in 1959  his death is registered to Claro the West Riding of Yorkshire . Phyllis Blanche Carson died 11.04.1995 at the age of 92 the sentinel newspaper obituary on 19.04.1995 states her address as 6 Spratslade Drive Longton, formally of Trentham , dearly loved wife of Herbert, loving sister of Dorothy. 

The sentinel newspaper article dated 03.04.1939 describes the wedding of Sydney James Hall to Martha Margot Keates and his brother Harold Kenneth as best man. At the time of the 1939 register Sydney and Martha lived at 20 Inglewood Drive, Port hill Newcastle under Lyme, Sydney worked as a maintenance engineer for Royal Doulton pottery and was also a duty ARP officer , Martha unpaid domestic duties.  The evening Sentinel July 19th 1975 reports the sudden death of Martha aged 62 years the dearly beloved wife of Sydney Hall of Merle bank Sovereign lane, Ashley, Market Drayton.  The evening Sentinel newspaper reports the death on May 9th 1983 that on Sunday 8th May 1983 at CGH Sydney aged 71 years of Merle Bank , Sovereign lane Ashley Market Drayton the beloved  husband of the late Martha Hall. 

The Leicester Mercury newspaper reports on 17.02.1945 at Bournemouth Dennis Edwin, younger son of Mrs E.D.L Bradbury and the late Mr W J Bradbury of Leicester to Margery Noreen Leah Hall, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs S Hall of Cross Heath Newcastle under Lyme. Dennis Edwin Bradbury at the time of the 1939 register was a Heating Engineer-Technical & Draughtsman living at 23 Rodnant Avenue with his widowed mother Elise , D.L. Bradbury (1888) Working as a Corsetiere and s Phyllis (1908) and Joan (1918) Bradbury . The birth of their daughter Judith R Bradbury was registered in Southampton June 1947. The death of Dennis Edwin Bradbury was reported in 1974 ; Bradbury on May 1 in hospital Dennis Edwin, beloved husband of Margery and father of Judith of 11 Redwood way , Bassett, Southampton and son of Mrs Louise Bradbury of Bournemouth.  Marjorie or Margery Noreen Leah of 11 Redwood way, Bassett Southampton died 27.10.1980 aged 65 years. 

At the time of the 1939 register Harold Kenneth Hall living at 1 Baskerville Road, Northwood, Stoke on Trent  and already cited as  745667 RAF Sgt Pilot, he was lodging with his married sister Dorothy and her husband Ernest Tew and their 8 year old son Gerald E. Ernest and Dorothy married in 1930, Gerald was born 19.04.1932. Their daughter Dorothy A Tews' birth was registered Sept 1944 .  Dorothy Halls death is registered in Stoke on Trent November 1996 aged 88 years , Ernest Tew death is registered in Stoke on Trent in May 1998. Their son Gerald's death is registered in Leek Staffordshire 29.09.2013. 

The only reference to Harold Kenneth Hall working at Royal Doulton was in the Staffordshire Sentinel - Saturday 10 May 1941 when they reported him missing in action. They state before joining up he worked in the art department with his father Sydney. 

There is mention of H.K.Hall having a fiancee, Corporal D Willis Auxiliary Territorial Service based in Buckingham Court Hotel , Palace Road London. Due to difficulty obtaining service records for the ATS the identity of D Willis is currently a mystery. 

RAF and Service records 

The earliest we see Harold as a member of the RAF is in 1939 where he appears as Flight Sergeant 745667 Pilot on the 1939 Register

We can trace elements of his RAF career via various sources and these inform us that he was a Spitfire Pilot. 

He was attached to 54 Squadron RAF who when he joined them on the 13th November 1940 were stationed at Catterick. The squadron had participated in and played a significant role in the Battle of Britain between 10th July 1940 and 03rd October 1940 and were moved to Catterick to enjoy a period of rest and recuperation, training, receiving new pilots and rebuilding their operational effectiveness.

On the 23rd February 1941 54 Squadron moved back to its former operational base Hornchurch much to the delight of the now experienced ‘old hand’ pilots and the eager newly trained pilots. A telling entry in the operational log of 20th February 1941 reads ‘ The old hands felt that the old times would soon be back and the young pilots longed to get at the Me 109s ‘

We can follow Harold’s flying record in the Squadron logs as follows: 

04.01.1941 Catterick Training - PATROL - Aircraft X4238 SPITFIRE I

05.01.1941 Catterick Training - FORMATION - Aircraft X4238 SPITFIRE I

12.01.1941 Catterick Training - FORMATION - Aircraft P9559 SPITFIRE I

13.01.1941 Catterick Training - FORMATION, SQUADRON FORMATION, NIGHT FLYING - Aircraft P9559

01.02.1941 Catterick Training - FORMATION PRACTICE, SQUADRON FORMATION + DUSK LANDING - Aircraft P9506 SPITFIRE Ia + R6709 SPITFIRE IA 

02.02.1941 Catterick Training - TARGET FROM ABOVE + SQUADRON FORMATION - Aircraft R6709 SPITFIRE IA + X4163 SPITFIRE SPITFIRE 1A

03.02.1941 Catterick Training - SQUADRON FORMATION + NIGHT FLYING - Aircraft R6899 SPITFIRE 1A + X4238 SPITFIRE I

04.02.1941 Catterick Training - OPERATIONAL PATROL - Aircraft X4238 SPITFIRE I

06.02.1941 Catterick Training - SQUADRON FORMATION, PATROL LINE + DUSK LANDINGS - Aircraft P9506 SPITFIRE 1A + X4238 SPITFIRE I

10.02.1941 Catterick Training - BLUE PATROL LINE - Aircraft R6709 SPITFIRE 1A

23.03.1941 Southend - AIR FIRING - Aircraft P7666 SPITFIRE II

25.03.1941 Southend - AIR FIRING - Aircraft P7666 SPITFIRE II

27.03.1941  Southend - AIR FIGHTING TACTICS - Aircraft P7666 SPITFIRE II

31.03.1941 Southend - SWEEP, CONVOY PATROL + TO ROCHFORD - Aircraft P7284 SPITFIRE II + P7823 SPITFIRE IIA + P7920 SPITFIRE IIA

01.04.1941 Rochford - FORMATION TRAINING - Aircraft P7918 SPITFIRE II

03.04.1941 Rochford - PRACTICE ATTACKS + TARGETS - Aircraft P7284 SPITFIRE II

04.04.1941 Rochford - PATROL - Aircraft P7284 SPITFIRE II

06.04.1941 Rochford - WEATHER TEST AIR FIRING - Aircraft P8918 + P7920 SPITFIRE II

07.04.1941 Rochford - SQUADRON FORMATION + WING FORMATION - Aircraft P8198 SPITFIRE II

08.04.1941 Rochford - PATROL, OFFENSIVE SWEEPS - Aircraft P7284 SPITFIRE II

09.04.1941 Rochford - NORTH SEA SWEEPS - Aircraft P7284 SPITFIRE II

10.04.1941 Rochford - CONVOY PATROLS - Aircraft P7284 SPITFIRE II

11.04.1941 Rochford - PATROL - Aircraft P7284 SPITFIRE II

12.04.1941 Rochford - CONVOY PATROL - Aircraft P7284 SPITFIRE II

13.04.1941 Rochford - SQUADRON FORMATION - Aircraft P7284 SPITFIRE II

15.04.1941 Rochford - PATROL - Aircraft P8918 SPITFIRE II

16.04.1941 Rochford - PATROL MAIDSTONE - Aircraft P7833 SPITFIRE II

17.04.1941 Rochford - PATROL, CONVOY PATROL OPERATION SPHERE- Aircraft P7833 SPITFIRE II

18.04.1941 Rochford - PATROL BARROW DEEP, APTROL + AIR FIRING - Aircraft P7833 SPITFIRE II

20.04.1941 Rochford - PATROL - Aircraft P7833 SPITFIRE II

07.05.1941 Southend - BOMBER ESCORT CALAIS - Aircraft P8178 SPITFIRE II

COMBAT REPORT 9TH APRIL 1941

During the flight of 9th April 1941 HALL was blue 2 to leader Pilot Officer BAXTER. They were engaged in Operation RHUBARB off the Dutch coast when HALL reported seeing 4 aircraft approaching at speed from slightly behind. On seeing these aircraft BAXTER identified them as Me109s and instructed HALL to go for cover in the clouds. BAXTER descended from the cloud to confront 2 Me 109s about 800 feet below BAXTER fired 2 short bursts at the leading Me109 but did not see any indication of a hit. HALL  reported seeing the Me109 burst into flame and crash into the sea.

OPERATIONAL RECORD 7TH MAY 1941

Harold's flight of the 7th May 1941 would be his last. Operational records report that on this day a flight of 11 Spitfires took off from Southend, Harold in P8178 a MKII Spitfire, their mission was to provide high cover for a flight of Blenheim’s which were tasked with bombing raids to shipping between Calais and Dunkirk. The Blenheims were escorted by 64 Squadron. Over the French coast the Squadron Leader reported seeing 4 x Me 09s but were too far away to engage. Black leader F/Lt GRIBBLE chased 1 Me109 into the cloud but disengaged. Black 2, Sgt HALL followed it into the cloud and was never seen again. This occurred 3 miles North East of Dunkirk. 10 of the 11 aircraft returned, HALL was missing 

The position Hall was last seen is over water so it is assumed that his aircraft was lost beneath the waves

AIR MINISTRY FILE  - FLIGHT SERGEANT  745667 H K HALL

The file contains various items of personal correspondence and internal communication relating to the loss of FL/SGT H K HALL and his aircraft P8178 SPITFIRE. 

6TH JUNE 1941 Pilot Officer USHERWOOD 54 Squadron response to request from the Under Secretary of State, Air Ministry Ref 8710/41/P.4 CAS R. 542 dated 30.05.1941.

 In it he states that he first reported the matter in his flight book 7th May. He states that at 10.40 hrs 7/5/41 11 aircraft took off as high cover for blenheims due to bomb shipping between Calais and Dunkirk. The squadron met Blenheim’s under escort by 64 Squadron, flew South and crossed the East Coast near Gris-Nez. Light anti aircraft encountered at Calais and along the coast. Squadron Leader saw 4 ME109s but they were too far away to engage. Black Leader F/Lt GRIBBLE DFC chased 1 ME109 into the cloud but thought it inadvisable to follow.

HALL must have followed into the clouds for he was not seen again. This was 3 miles North East of Dunkirk. 10 aircraft landed at 1200 hrs Cloud 10/10 at 3000 feet

9TH JUNE 1941 Telephone call received by the Air Ministry from CPL D WILLIS Auxiliary Territorial Service requesting information as to the whereabouts of FL/SGT H K HALL. She is recorded as his Fiance with an address of Buckingham Court Hotel, Palace Street, London SW1

12TH SEPTEMBER 1941 Letter received at Air Ministry from FL/SGT HALL’S sister N L HALL stating she has been informed by Squadron Leader H T BOYD 54 Squadron that her brother and the flight commander had separated from the rest of the squadron to investigate an enemy aircraft and he was not seen again. She enquires if the flight commander was also lost and requests his name and address that she can make her own enquiries.

18TH OCTOBER 1941 Letter from Air Ministry to M N L HALL in response to her letter dated 12TH SEPTEMBER 1941.  In it, it is confirmed the flight commander to which she refers was FL/LT D G GRIBBLE DFC. Whilst it is not the practice of the department to divulge personal details of force personnel they can inform her that FL/LT GRIBBLE 40695 had returned safely but sadly was also lost on the 4TH JUNE 1941. But they do provide the details of his mother G E J GRIBBLE

1ST NOVEMBER 1941 Communication from Flying Officer USHERWOOD 54 Squadron in response to request from Air Ministry Secretary of State dated 30TH OCTOBER 1941. Prides confirming that no further evidence or news in respect of FL/SGT 755667 H K HALL reported missing 7TH MAY 1941 has been received.

10TH DECEMBER 1941 Letter from Air Ministry to HALL’S father S HALL providing official confirmation of the PRESUMED death of FL/SGT H K HALL as of 7th May 1941

UNDATED communication to 43 Salvage Group, Oxford detailing loss of aircraft 1100hrs 7TH MAY 1941. SPITFIRE 2A P8178 MERLIN X11  12799/141488. Guns loaded at take off. Requesting urgent replacement. 

OPERATION BARROW DEEP -  A RAF operation to disrupt enemy shipping in the North Sea

OPERATION RHUBARB - A RAF operation aimed at attacking ground targets in France, to disrupt enemy operations and draw out enemy aircraft to combat

OPERATION SPHERE - A RAF operation aimed at protecting air space over Dover and the English Channel, to monitor and intercept enemy aircraft

The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede commemorates by name over 20,000 men and women of the air forces, who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves. They served in Bomber, Fighter, Coastal, Transport, Flying Training and Maintenance Commands, and came from all parts of the Commonwealth. Some were from countries in continental Europe which had been overrun but whose airmen continued to fight in the ranks of the Royal Air Force.

Harold Kenneth Hall is commemorated on panel 44 at Runnymede Memorial.

He is also remembered on the Royal Doulton memorial Burslem Stoke on Trent. 

Source Citation

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Author: Peter Singlehurst; Series Title: British Commonwealth War Graves Registers, 1914-1918; Archive Name: London, United Kingdom
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12736, ED 10, Sch 270; Book: 12736
• The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/5287H
• General Register Office; United Kingdom; Reference: Volume 6b, Page 416
• Staffordshire County Council; Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, England; Indexes of Births, Marriages and Deaths for the County of Staffordshire; Reference Number: Ce34/01/57
• Indexes created from Anglican Parish Registers held at Staffordshire Record Office; Stafford, Staffordshire, England
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2175; Folio: 125; Page: 19; GSU roll: 6097285
• Class: RG13; Piece: 2608; Folio: 154; Page: 38
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
• Evening Sentinel; Publication Date: 15 Jan 1954; Publication Place: Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, England; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/867818768/?article=5101f5fb-3046-4580-92f8-8c36bd5327cb&focus=0.4401442,0.20184606,0.53763103,0.22303112&xid=3355
• The Staffordshire Sentinel, Daily and Weekly; Publication Date: 12 Jun 1928; Publication Place: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/973043018/?article=205f864c-8770-4d12-8e6c-d9802cbbb6b5&xid=5907&terms=Annie_Blanche_Hall
• Naval and Miltiary Press; Uckfield, East Sussex, England; Airmen Died in the Second World War 1939-45
• Forces War Records, UK, WWII, Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1348/uk-wwii-index-to-allied-airmen-roll-of-honour-1939-1945 : accessed 21 Jul 2025), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1348/uk-wwii-index-to-allied-airmen-roll-of-honour-1939-1945
• https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000525/19410510/011/0001?noTouch=true 
• The National Archives' reference AIR 27/512/1 
• The National Archives' reference AIR 50/21/92 
• The National Archives' reference AIR 27/512/7
• The National Archives' reference AIR 50/21/12
• The National Archives' reference AIR 27/512/7 
• NATIONAL ARCHIVES REF AIR81/6290 FILE NUMBER P358903/41