William Reid Hall was educated at Clifton School.
In the First World War he was a Captain in the Signals responsible for training new recruits.
Following is an extract of his service from 'Memoirs of S.53' in 1918:
Hall, Captain W.R., 2/1st Denbigh (Hussars) Yeomanry.
Gazetted Second Lietenant, Oct 19th, 1914. Promoted Lieutenant, June
1st, 1915; Captain, May 1st 1916. Regimental Signal Officer, 1916
Brigade Signal Officer, 1916-17-18. Recreations: Riding, Shooting,
Hunting, Fishing. Address: Toravon, Werneth, Oldham.
"Pentre Ucha," Llanymynech.
--
W R Hall Specialist Wireless Telegraphy Training Technical Knowledge-31-Jan-1918
LIEUT. (Acting unpaid Captain) W.R.Hall - age 25
Technical knowledge and Training.
An engineer by profession with practical experience of
pattern making, tool fitting, turning and milling also
setting up and working electric motors and dynamos. He has
a good knowledge of the working and mechanism of oil and
petrol engines.
He has been in Command of the 6th. Cyclist Bde. Signal Troop
since 1st May 1916 and has had to superintend the erection
of about 70 miles airline for Coast defence purposes.
He has had experience in testing and localisation of faults
with the Wheatstone bridge etc. A good theoretical knowledge
of the Fullerphone also all the instruments with which this
Brigade is equipped for Coast defence and other purposes.
A slight knowledge of Wireless telegraphy and a thorough
grounding in general electrical knowledge.
He was educated at Clifton College 1903 - 1911 where he
specialised in Chemistry, Physics and mathematics followed by
six months in a French family near Blois.
---
W R Hall Request to be posted overseas 14-Oct-1918
Copy
From capt W. R. Hall
Sir,
I have the honour to request that you will
forward this my application to proceed overseas at an
early date by reasons for the regiment and as
follows.
1) I was commisioned to the 2nd Denbighshire Yeomanry in
Oct 1914 and signed to voluntary service overseas.
When the first draft was called for I
was not available being under instruction for signalling.
Later I was seconded to comm. the 2nd work
London Brigade Signal Section and for 2 years
was emplyed on C.D. work between Berwick
and L. by Sea. During this time I made three
attempts to get over seas but all were unsucessful.
2) The above correspondence explains what brought
me to the Training Centre. I am exceeding keen
on wireless work and did not apply for the
_ course owing to the delay in getting
overseas which would be occasioned thereby.
---
W R Hall Thanks from PM David Lloyd-George 4-Jul-1921
10 Downing Street,
London, S.W.1
4th July, 1921
Sir,
I have much pleasure in personally thanking you
and in conveying to you the thanks of my colleagues, for
the services you have rendered during the recent national
emergency.
The readiness which you and others have shown
in coming forward to defend the public was an effectual
guarantee for the maintenance of law and order, and for
the prerservation of the people from threatened privation
and misery; it will be remembered with gratitude by all
sections of the community.
I trust that no further demand will have to be
made on your services. If however, a fresh necessity
should arise, I feel sure you will respond with no less
public spirit and zeal than you have shown during the past
crisis.
I am, Sir
Your obedient Servant,
David Lloyd George
Capt W R Hall
T/Capt East Lancs
Sigs (D.F.)
---
After the war, He became an engineer and served as director of Platt Bros from 1924-62.
He was praised in the book 'Platts' by R.H. Eastham when he allayed the workers fears at a meeting in Oldham in the late 1940s stating that he was not in favour of the rumour to move all the textile machinery operations from Oldham to Barton.
On July 6th 1926 he married Alice Mary Goldie Macmillan who was born on 13th January 1902.
They lived at Melyniog, Llansantffraid.
In the 1939 register, he was living at 189 Windsor Road, and occupation was works manager at munitions works. The other resident was Hilda Bradbury the head.
He received an MBE for apprehending an armed burglar.
Below is the citation in the London Gazette, Tuesday, 21st April 1964:
William Reid HALL, Llansantffraid, Montgomeryshire.
Shortly after midnight a man armed with a
shot gun climbed through the window of
Mr. Hall's bedroom, woke him, and holding
the gun a few feet from his head threatened
to shoot him if he moved. Mr. Hall, although
partially crippled, got out of bed as quickly
as he could and attacked the intruder with a
stick. The muzzle of the gun was knocked
upwards and a scrimmage occurred during
which the intruder was struck on his head and
dazed. He calmed down somewhat and Mr.
Hall managed to obtain possession of the gun.
He immediately threw it from the window into
the yard. His wife then telephoned the police.
The burglar tried to get away by the window
but Mr. Hall prevented him and kept him in
conversation for some time until the police
arrived.
References:
http://www.stanwardine.com/melyniog_letters/name/William_Reid_Hall_-_born_1893.htm#237 
