George Hall joined the 1st Battalion, 52nd Regiment of Foot in 1812 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant. The 52nd was at Cuidad Rodrigo in Spain taking part in the Peninsular War against the French.

The 52nd fought across Spain and into France from where in 1814 they returned home to Great Britain from where they embarked for Ireland. The 52nd were quickly sent out to the Netherlands and as a result fought in the Battle of Waterloo.

Major George Hall joined the 72nd Highlanders in 1826 and served until 1832.

Research by Neil Thompson-Burton

Major George Hall would have received a Duke of Wellington’s Waterloo Medal, 1815. This particular example in the Museum collection belonged to Private A Fraser.

This medal is significant because it was the first medal awarded to all British soldiers present at the battle; the medal was the same regardless of rank. This transpired into the tradition of Campaign Medals which still exists today.