Private Richard Henry Hallas aged 35

Richard Henry Hallas was born in Paddock, Huddersfield on 20 March 1880 to Henry Hallas born in Ripponden and Mary Emma (nee Atkinson) born in Leeds. In 1891, aged 11 and living in Luddenden he was a woollen operative, and associated with Luddenden Church & School; a member of the School Pierrot Troupe. In 1901 he was 21 and a joiner with Mr Noble in Halifax and living at Bank Terrace with his parents (his father a Leather Currier) and 8 siblings. He was a member of the Halifax Light Opera Society. On 24 May 1904, in his early 20’s he left his eight siblings and sailed off from Liverpool on the Dominion to make a new life in Canada, registered as a labourer / joiner and arriving in Montreal. In Canada, he was working in Toronto and was a member of the Mendelssohn Choir. He enlisted and served as a Private with the 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). He was sent to France in August 1915 after coming to England to complete his training. He died from wounds in the abdomen on 24th November 1915 His parents were then living at East View, New Road.

He is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord) in France.