View source for William Hall (VC)

{{short description|Canadian Royal Navy hero}}
{{other people||William Hall (disambiguation){{!}}William Hall}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = William Nelson Edward Hall
| image = William Hall VC.jpg
| image_size = 180
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1827|4|28}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1904|8|27|1827|4|28}}
| birth_place = [[Horton, Nova Scotia|Horton, Colony of Nova Scotia]]
| death_place = [[Avonport, Nova Scotia]], Canada
| placeofburial = [[Hantsport, Nova Scotia|Hantsport]] Baptist Church Cemetery, Nova Scotia
| nickname = 
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}} (1847–49)<br/>{{flag|United Kingdom}} (1849–76)
| serviceyears = 1847–1876
| rank = [[Petty Officer|Quartermaster]]
| branch = {{naval|United States}}<br/>{{navy|United Kingdom}}
| commands = 
| unit = 
| battles = [[Crimean War]]
* [[Battle of Inkerman]]
* [[Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855)|Siege of Sevastopol]]
[[Indian Rebellion]]
* [[Siege of Lucknow]]
| awards = [[Victoria Cross]]
| laterwork = 
| relations = 
}}
'''William Nelson Edward Hall'''<ref group=note>Hall's middle name is sometimes given as "Edward" but [[Parks Canada]] historian David States located his baptismal certificate which records his middle name as "Nelson", sometimes misspelled as Nielson. States, David W. "William Hall VC of Horton Bluff, Nova Scotia Nineteenth Century Naval Hero", ''Collections of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society'' Vol. 44 (1996), p. 71</ref> {{Post-nominals|VC}} (28 April 1827 – 27 August 1904) was the first [[Black Canadians|Black]] person, first [[Nova Scotia]]n, and the third [[Canadian]] to receive the [[Victoria Cross]] due to his actions in the 1857 [[Siege of Lucknow]]. He received the medal for his actions during the [[Indian Rebellion]].<ref>Clark, Samuel (2016). "Status Consequences of State Honours". ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=-ifCDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA318 Distributing Status: The Evolution of State Honours in Western Europe]''. Canada: McGill-Queens University Press. p. 322. [[Doi (identifier)|doi]]:[https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9780773598560/html 10.1515/9780773598560]. [[ISBN (identifier)|ISBN]] [[Special:BookSources/9780773598577|<bdi>9780773598577</bdi>]]. [[JSTOR (identifier)|JSTOR]] [https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1c99bzh j.ctt1c99bzh]. [[OCLC (identifier)|OCLC]] [https://search.worldcat.org/title/947837811 947837811]. Retrieved 14 May 2024.</ref> During the action in which the naval gun crew with which he was serving came under heavy fire as they attacked a mosque. Hall and an officer from his ship continued to load and fire a 24-pounder gun at the walls of the [[Imambara Shah Najaf|Shah Nujeef mosque]] after the rest of the party had been killed or injured by the local resistance hoping to secure the restoration of Mughal suzerainty.

==Early life==
William Edward Hall was born at [[Horton, Nova Scotia]], in 1827<ref group=note>Hall's date of birth is sometimes given as 1829 or 1826 but based on his birth certificate and military records, the Nova Scotia Museum concluded he was born in 1827. [https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/collections/william-hall-vc "William Hall VC", Biography from the Nova Scotia Museum]</ref> as the son of Jacob and Lucy Hall, who had escaped [[United States|American]] [[Slavery in the United States|slave owners]] in [[Maryland]] during the [[War of 1812]] and were brought to freedom in Nova Scotia by the British [[Royal Navy]] as part of the [[Black Refugee (War of 1812)|Black Refugee]] movement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msa.md.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5400/sc5496/050600/050637/html/050637bio.html |title=Lucy Hall |publisher=Maryland State Archives Biographical Series |access-date=27 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180206/https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5400/sc5496/050600/050637/html/050637bio.html |archive-date=9 February 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Halls first lived in [[Summerville, Nova Scotia]], where Jacob worked in a shipyard operated by [[Abraham Cunard]] until they bought a farm across the [[Avon River, Nova Scotia|Avon River]] at Horton Bluff.<ref>States, pp. 71–72</ref> Hall first worked in shipyards at nearby [[Hantsport, Nova Scotia]],<ref>[https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/collections/william-hall-vc "William Hall VC", Biography from the Nova Scotia Museum]</ref> before going to sea at the age of seventeen. He sailed first on merchant ships based out of the [[Minas Basin]] including the [[barque]] ''Kent'' of [[Kentville, Nova Scotia]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ferguson |first=Charles Bruce |location=Nova Scotia |title=Journal of Education (Fifth Series) |volume=17 |number=2 |date=December 1967 |pages=2}}</ref>

==Naval career==
[[File:BombardementOfSebastopolHMSRodney.jpg|thumb|left| Bombardment of Sebastopol by HMS ''Rodney'', [[Crimean War]] (1854)]]
Hall briefly served in the [[United States Navy]] from 1847 to 1849, during the [[Mexican–American War]]. He served for a time aboard {{USS|Ohio|1820|6}} alongside [[John Taylor Wood]], who later supported Hall's US Navy pension claim.<ref>States, p. 73</ref>

Hall volunteered for the Royal Navy in February 1852, serving at first aboard {{HMS|Rodney|1833|6}}. Hall fought in the [[Crimean War]] serving ashore in a [[Naval Brigade]] from ''Rodney'' at the battles of [[Battle of Inkerman|Inkerman]] and [[Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855)|Sevastopol]] in 1854.<ref>States, pp. 73–74</ref> After a brief tour on {{HMS|Victory}}, Hall transferred to the screw [[frigate]] {{HMS|Shannon|1855|6}}, where he became captain of the foretop.<ref name=crowjul52>{{cite magazine |title=Humble Hero |magazine=The Crowsnest |date=July 1952 |volume=4 |number=9 |publisher=Queen's Printer |location=Ottawa, Ontario |pages=16–7, 32}}</ref>

When the [[Indian Mutiny]] broke out in May 1857, ''Shannon'' was among the fleet escorting a troop detachment to China. Upon arrival at [[Singapore]], news of the situation in India reached the fleet, however the fleet completed its mission, arriving at [[Hong Kong]]. There, ''Shannon'' was ordered to [[Calcutta]] (since renamed [[Kolkata]]).<ref name=crowjul52/> A [[brigade]] from ''Shannon'', comprising 450 men, was constituted under Captain [[William Peel (VC)|William Peel]]. The ship was towed over {{convert|600|mi|km}} up the [[Ganges River]] to [[Allahabad]]. Then the force fought across country to Campbell's headquarters at [[Cawnpore]] and were in time to take part in the [[Siege of Lucknow]].<ref name=crowjul52/>

===Relief of Lucknow===
{{main|Siege of Lucknow}}
{{Military history of Nova Scotia}}
On 16 November 1857 at [[Lucknow]], India, naval guns were brought up close to the Shah Nujeef mosque, one of the key locations in the siege. One of the gun crews was short a man and Hall volunteered to fill out the position.<ref name=crowjul52 /> The gun crews kept up a steady fire in an attempt to breach and clear the walls, while a hail of musket balls and grenades from the opposing fighters inside the mosque caused heavy casualties. After having little effect on the walls, two guns were ordered closer. Of the crews, only [[Able Seaman]] Hall and [[Thomas James Young|Lieutenant Thomas James Young]], the battery's commander, were able to continue fighting, all the rest having been killed or wounded, and between them they loaded and served the last gun, which was fired at less than {{convert|20|yd|m}} from the wall, until it was breached.<ref name=crowjul52 /> The joint citation in the ''[[London Gazette]]'' reads: {{blockquote|Lieutenant (now Commander) Young, late Gunnery Officer of Her Majesty's ship " Shannon," and William Hall, "Captain of the Foretop," of that Vessel, were recommended by the late Captain Peel for the Victoria Cross, for their gallant conduct at a 24-Pounder Gun, brought up to the angle of the Shah Nujjiff, at Lucknow, on 16 November 1857.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22225|page=414|date=1 February 1859}}</ref>}}

===Later career===
Hall remained with the Royal Navy for the rest of his career. He joined the crew of {{HMS|Donegal|1858|6}} in 1859. On 28 October 1859, he was presented with the Victoria Cross by Rear Admiral [[Charles Talbot (Royal Navy officer)|Charles Talbot]] while ''Donegal'' was anchored at [[Cobh|Queenstown Harbour]]. Hall rose to the rating of [[Petty Officer]] First Class in {{HMS|Royal Adelaide|1828|6}} by the time he retired in 1876. He returned to his home village in Horton Bluff where he ran a small farm until his death in 1904.<ref>States, p. 79</ref>
In 1901, the future [[King George V]], visiting Nova Scotia, saw Hall at a parade, recognized his medals, and spoke with him.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/medals-decorations/orders-decorations/canadian-victoria-cross-recipients/william-hall|title=Able-Seaman William Neilson Edward Hall – Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients – Orders and Decorations – Canadian Orders, Medals and Decorations – Remembrance – Veterans Affairs Canada|first=Veterans Affairs|last=Canada|access-date=19 November 2016}}</ref>

==Commemorations==
[[File:Hall Plaque.JPG|left|thumb|Plaque on Hall monument in Hantsport]]
He was originally buried in an unmarked grave without military honours. He was reinterred in 1954<ref name="auto"/> in [[Hantsport, Nova Scotia]] where his grave is marked by a monument at the Baptist church. The Royal Canadian Legion (now closed) in Hantsport was named "The Lucknow Branch" in honour of his Victoria Cross action.

Hall's original Victoria Cross was repatriated from Britain in 1967 by the government of [[Nova Scotia]] and is on permanent display at the [[Maritime Museum of the Atlantic]] in Halifax.

Hall is also featured in exhibits at the [[Halifax Citadel]] and at the [[Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia]]. [[Canada Post]] commemorated William Hall [[Canada Post stamp releases (2010–2014)|on a stamp]], first issued on 1 February 2010 in Hantsport, Nova Scotia and officially launched at the Black Cultural Centre on 2 February 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/personal/collecting/stamps/2010/2010_William_Hall.jsf |title=William Hall |publisher=Canada Post Corporation |access-date=27 June 2015}}</ref> Hall was designated a National Historic Person by the [[National Historic Sites of Canada|Canadian Historic Sites and Monuments Board]] at Hantsport on 8 October 2010 and a new plaque was unveiled in his honour.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do;jsessionid=ac1b105330d5f051803c2e3d407f850bd509afce0821.e38RbhaLb3qNe38TaxuMa3uNc40?crtr.sj1D=&mthd=tp&crtr.mnthndVl=&nid=564919&crtr.dpt1D=&crtr.tp1D=1&crtr.lc1D=&crtr.yrStrtVl=&crtr.kw=&crtr.dyStrtVl=&crtr.aud1D=&crtr.mnthStrtVl=&crtr.yrndVl=&crtr.dyndVl= |title=Government of Canada Recognizes the National Historic Significance of William Hall, Victoria Cross |publisher=Parks Canada |date=8 October 2010 |access-date=27 June 2015}}</ref>

In November 2010, a connector road in Hantsport was named the William Hall V.C. Memorial Highway. A sign, bearing Hall's likeness, was erected on the road from [[Nova Scotia Highway 101|Highway 101]] to [[Nova Scotia Trunk 1|Trunk 1]] near Hantsport.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/william-hall-v-c-honoured-by-province-1.972214 |title=William Hall, V.C., honoured by province |work=CBC News |date=10 November 2010 |access-date=27 June 2015}}</ref>

The fourth ship in the [[Royal Canadian Navy]]'s {{Sclass|Harry DeWolf|offshore patrol vessel|4}} was officially named [[HMCS William Hall|HMCS ''William Hall'']] in a ceremony at [[Irving Shipbuilding]]'s yard in Halifax on 28 April 2023.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Irving Shipbuilding |title=The Future HMCS William Hall Officially Named Today |url=https://shipsforcanada.ca/our-stories/the-future-hmcs-william-hall-officially-named-today |date=28 April 2023 |access-date=1 May 2023}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
Hall's personal awards and decorations include the following:

<div class="center">

[[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
<br>
[[Image:Crimea Medal BAR.svg|110px]] [[File:Turkish Crimea Medal Ribbon.PNG|100px]] [[Image:Indian Mutiny Medal BAR.svg|110px]]

</div>
<br>

[[File:William Hall, VC, Siege of Lucknow.png|thumb|William Hall, VC, Siege of Lucknow, portrait by Frank Briggs (1824–1888), 15 High Street, St. John's Wood, London]]

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:Navy;color:White" align="center" 
|'''Ribbon'''||'''Description'''||'''Notes'''
|-
|[[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|80px]] || [[Victoria Cross]] (VC) ||
*Awarded as per London Gazette of 2 January 1859 <ref> "Lieutenant (now Commander) Young, late gunnery officer of Her Majesty's Ship "Shannon," and Able-Seaman William Hall, "Captain of the Foretop" of that Vessel, were recommended by the late Captain Peel for the Victoria Cross, for their gallant conduct at a 24-Pounder gun brought up to the angle of the Shah Nujjiff, at Lucknow, on the 16th November, 1857." His action is deemed largely responsible for the relief of Lucknow."</ref>
*Presented 28 October 1859 aboard {{HMS|Donegal|1858|6}} in [[Cobh|Queenstown]] Harbour, Ireland.
|-
|[[Image:Crimea Medal BAR.svg|80px]] || [[Crimea Medal]] || 
* With Balaklava clasp <ref> for the battle of 25 October 1854.</ref>
* With Inkerman clasp <ref> for the battle of 5 November 1854.</ref>
* With Sebastopol clasp <ref>for the siege that lasted from 11 September 1854 to 9 September 1855.</ref>
|-
|[[File:Turkish Crimea Medal Ribbon.PNG|80px]] || [[Turkish Crimea Medal]] || 
*1856
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|name=Indian Mutiny Medal BAR|width=80}}|| [[Indian Mutiny Medal]] || 
* With Relief of Lucknow clasp <ref> November 1857. Awarded to the second Lucknow relief force under the command of Sir Colin Campbell </ref>
* With Lucknow clasp <ref> November 1857 – March 1858. Awarded to troops under command of Sir Colin Campbell who were engaged in final operations leading to the surrender of Lucknow and the clearing of the surrounding areas</ref>
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[Family Day (Canada)#Nova Scotia Heritage Day|Nova Scotia Heritage Day]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=States |first=David W. |title= Hall VC of Horton Nineteenth Century Naval Hero |work=Collections of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society |publisher=Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society |volume=44 |date=1996}}

==External links==
*[http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Hurrah/Chap_03.htm Naval Bombardment of Sebetobol]
*[http://hohants.weebly.com/3-william-hall.html Film short – William Hall]
*[https://ojs.library.dal.ca/NSM/article/view/3324 "William Hall VC", Biography from the Nova Scotia Museum]
*[http://www.dacosta400.ca/cavalcade/williamhall.shtml "William Hall", ''DaCosta 44'']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110518022717/http://www.legionmagazine.com/en/index.php/2004/03/canada-and-the-victoria-cross-of-rebellion-and-rescue-2/ Legion Magazine article on William Hall]
*[http://ns1763.ca/hantsco/hallmem.html Photos of William Hall monument at Hantsport, Nova Scotia]
*{{find a Grave|11341159}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, William}}
[[Category:1827 births]]
[[Category:1904 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials in Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian military personnel from Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Black Nova Scotians]]
[[Category:Canadian recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Naval history of Canada]]
[[Category:People from Hants County, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:People from Kings County, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Pre-Confederation Nova Scotia people]]
[[Category:Royal Navy sailors]]
[[Category:Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Crimean War]]
[[Category:United States Navy sailors]]
[[Category:Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada)]]