Roll of Honour

Ronald (Sammy) Hall MM

Sammy Hall passed away on 16th January 1995 in the Darlington Memorial Hospital after a short illness. He was 83.

Sammy as he was known to his wartime comrades and friends, first encountered military action in the Spanish Civil War. He was on the side of the republicans in 1935/36. He joined the Royal Engineers on 20th March 1940 and served with the 6th and 8th Bomb Disposal Companies. He joined the 1st Parachute Squadron in 1942 and served with them in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Arnhem. He was awarded a Military Medal for his action during the capture of the Primasole Bridge; in Sicily. At Arnhem he was part of the force that held the bridge under the command of Lt Col Frost. He was severely wounded when his right elbow was shot away and subsequently spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner.

After the war, he spent many years as a Special Constable in the town of Darlington, where he kept a watchful eye on the young soldiers from the nearby army garrisons. He was a regular member of the local branch of the PRA and twenty-six members attended his fun ' Sergeant Tom Gilley, his Troop Sergeant and four other members of the AEA also attended.

Our condolences and thoughts go out to his wife Winifred and Daughters: Brenda, Susan and Irene and Sons: Gary and Alvin.