Fremantle born Walter ‘Algy’ Hale was a prominent member of the Claremont for seven seasons until his enlistment as a Private in the 12th Battalion at the end of August 1914.
His unit was among the first ashore during the Anzac landing at Gallipoli. In early May 1915 he was mistakenly reported as killed in action. The distressing news reached his family in Fremantle and his photo displayed in the newspapers as one of the fallen. Two months later, and much to the relief of his family, the Western Mail reported, “The mystery which surrounded the fate, of Lance-Corporal W. H. E. Hale, of the 12th Battalion, has now been completely cleared up. Lance-Corporal Hale was at first officially reported as having died of wounds on May 10, but last week his relatives received a private cable to the effect that he was alive and well. As the result of further inquiries made by the military authorities, it has now been ascertained that he has been wounded, and is in hospital at Alexandria, doing well.”
In fact, Hale was in hospital in Egypt with bronchitis. After his recovery he rejoined his unit in Gallipoli, was promoted to Sergeant and remained there until the end of the failed campaign. He landed at Marseilles on 5 April 1916 and by November of that year had been promoted in the field to the rank of Lieutenant. On 22 December 1916 Hale received a gun shot wound to the neck and was transferred to England to recover. By July 1917 he was back in the field with the 12th Battalion. On 5 October 1917 Lieutenant Hale was killed in action in a field in Belgium. He was 29 years of age.