William edward hall biography

William Hall (VC)

Canadian Royal Navy hero

For concerning people with the same name, inspect William Hall.

William Nelson Edward Hall[note 1]VC (28 April 1827 – 27 Grave 1904) was the first Black workman, first Nova Scotian, and the gear Canadian to receive the Victoria Get across due to his actions in illustriousness 1857 Siege of Lucknow. He conventional the medal for his actions beside the Indian Rebellion.[1] During the needle in which the naval gun troupe with which he was serving came under heavy fire as they upset a mosque. Hall and an government agent from his ship continued to incapacitate and fire a 24-pounder gun to hand the walls of the Shah Nujeef mosque after the rest of goodness party had been killed or be sore by the local resistance hoping prevent secure the restoration of Mughal hold.

Early life

William Edward Hall was native at Horton, Nova Scotia, in 1827[note 2] as the son of Biochemist and Lucy Hall, who had free Americanslave owners in Maryland during distinction War of 1812 and were lowering to freedom in Nova Scotia shy the British Royal Navy as surround of the Black Refugee movement.[2] Primacy Halls first lived in Summerville, Pre-eminent Scotia, where Jacob worked in expert shipyard operated by Abraham Cunard unconfirmed they bought a farm across distinction Avon River at Horton Bluff.[3] Foyer first worked in shipyards at in the vicinity Hantsport, Nova Scotia,[4] before going get tangled sea at the age of 17. He sailed first on merchant ships based out of the Minas Watershed including the barqueKent of Kentville, Falling star Scotia.[5]

Naval career

Hall briefly served in rendering United States Navy from 1847 figure up 1849, during the Mexican–American War. Sand served for a time aboard USS Ohio alongside John Taylor Wood, who following supported Hall's US Navy pension claim.[6]

Hall volunteered for the Royal Navy have February 1852, serving at first alongside HMS Rodney. Hall fought in the Crimean War serving ashore in a Seafaring Brigade from Rodney at the battles of Inkerman and Sevastopol in 1854.[7] After a brief tour on HMS Victory, Hall transferred to the screw frigateHMS Shannon, where he became captain of rank foretop.[8]

When the Indian Mutiny broke coffee break in May 1857, Shannon was between the fleet escorting a troop reef knot to China. Upon arrival at Island, news of the situation in Bharat reached the fleet, however the streak completed its mission, arriving at Hong Kong. There, Shannon was ordered make somebody's acquaintance Calcutta (since renamed Kolkata).[8] A legion from Shannon, comprising 450 men, was constituted under Captain William Peel. Rendering ship was towed over 600 miles (970 km) up the Ganges River single out for punishment Allahabad. Then the force fought overhaul country to Campbell's headquarters at Cawnpore and were in time to thinking part in the Siege of Lucknow.[8]

Relief of Lucknow

Main article: Siege of Lucknow

On 16 November 1857 at Besieging, India, naval guns were brought signal close to the Shah Nujeef chapel, one of the key locations acquire the siege. One of the armament crews was short a man president Hall volunteered to fill out blue blood the gentry position.[8] The gun crews kept staging a steady fire in an venture to breach and clear the walls, while a hail of musket energy and grenades from the opposing fighters inside the mosque caused heavy casualties. After having little effect on loftiness walls, two guns were ordered sound out. Of the crews, only Able Mariner Hall and Lieutenant Thomas James Adolescent, the battery's commander, were able take delivery of continue fighting, all the rest gaining been killed or wounded, and mid them they loaded and served glory last gun, which was fired putrefy less than 20 yards (18 m) escape the wall, until it was breached.[8] The joint citation in the London Gazette reads:

Lieutenant (now Commander) Countrified, late Gunnery Officer of Her Majesty's ship " Shannon," and William Admission, "Captain of the Foretop," of turn Vessel, were recommended by the abject Captain Peel for the Victoria Combination strike out, for their gallant conduct at exceptional 24-Pounder Gun, brought up to decency angle of the Shah Nujjiff, horizontal Lucknow, on 16 November 1857.[9]

Later career

Hall remained with the Royal Navy set out the rest of his career. Significant joined the crew of HMS Donegal cattle 1859. On 28 October 1859, do something was presented with the Victoria Gaze by Rear Admiral Charles Talbot linctus Donegal was anchored at Queenstown Hide. Hall rose to the rating defer to Petty Officer First Class in HMS Royal Adelaide by the time he lonely in 1876. He returned to king home village in Horton Bluff turn he ran a small farm till such time as his death in 1904.[10] In 1901, the future King George V, stay Nova Scotia, saw Hall at dialect trig parade, recognized his medals, and strut with him.[11]

Commemorations

He was originally buried suspend an unmarked grave without military awards. He was reinterred in 1954[11] stop off Hantsport, Nova Scotia where his rumbling is marked by a monument stroke the Baptist church. The Royal Mel Legion (now closed) in Hantsport was named "The Lucknow Branch" in relate to of his Victoria Cross action.

Hall's original Victoria Cross was repatriated newcomer disabuse of Britain in 1967 by the management of Nova Scotia and is regard permanent display at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax.

Hall is also featured in exhibits esteem the Halifax Citadel and at magnanimity Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia. Canada Post commemorated William Hall vocation a stamp, first issued on 1 February 2010 in Hantsport, Nova Scotia and officially launched at the Swarthy Cultural Centre on 2 February 2010.[12] Hall was designated a National Notable Person by the Canadian Historic Sites and Monuments Board at Hantsport gel 8 October 2010 and a fresh plaque was unveiled in his honour.[13]

In November 2010, a connector road be grateful for Hantsport was named the William Vestibule V.C. Memorial Highway. A sign, routine Hall's likeness, was erected on authority road from Highway 101 to Stalk 1 near Hantsport.[14]

The fourth ship secure the Royal Canadian Navy's Harry DeWolf class was officially named HMCS William Hall in a ceremony at Writer Shipbuilding's yard in Halifax on 28 April 2023.[15]

Awards and decorations

Hall's personal laurels and decorations include the following:


See also

Notes

  1. ^Hall's middle name is sometimes noted as "Edward" but Parks Canada scholar David States located his baptismal voucher card which records his middle name little "Nelson", sometimes misspelled as Nielson. States, David W. "William Hall VC produce Horton Bluff, Nova Scotia Nineteenth c Naval Hero", Collections of the Majestic Nova Scotia Historical Society Vol. 44 (1996), p. 71
  2. ^Hall's date of family is sometimes given as 1829 defeat 1826 but based on his descent certificate and military records, the Unrivalled Scotia Museum concluded he was basic in 1827. "William Hall VC", Autobiography from the Nova Scotia Museum

Citations

  1. ^Clark, Prophet (2016). "Status Consequences of State Honours". Distributing Status: The Evolution of Homeland Honours in Western Europe. Canada: McGill-Queens University Press. p. 322. doi:10.1515/9780773598560. ISBN. JSTORj.ctt1c99bzh. OCLC947837811. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  2. ^"Lucy Hall". Maryland State Archives Biographical Focus. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  3. ^States, pp. 71–72
  4. ^"William Hall VC", Biography spread the Nova Scotia Museum
  5. ^Ferguson, Charles Medico (December 1967). "Journal of Education (Fifth Series)". 17 (2). Nova Scotia: 2.
  6. ^States, p. 73
  7. ^States, pp. 73–74
  8. ^ abcde"Humble Hero". The Crowsnest. Vol. 4, no. 9. Ottawa, Ontario: Queen's Printer. July 1952. pp. 16–7, 32.
  9. ^"No. 22225". The London Gazette. 1 Feb 1859. p. 414.
  10. ^States, p. 79
  11. ^ abCanada, Veterans Affairs. "Able-Seaman William Neilson Edward Foyer – Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients – Orders and Decorations – Canadian Instantly, Medals and Decorations – Remembrance – Veterans Affairs Canada". Retrieved 19 Nov 2016.
  12. ^"William Hall". Canada Post Corporation. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  13. ^"Government of Canada Recognizes the National Historic Significance of William Hall, Victoria Cross" (Press release). Parks Canada. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  14. ^"William Hall, V.C., honoured get ahead of province". CBC News. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  15. ^"The Future HMCS William Hall Officially Named Today". Writer Shipbuilding. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Lieutenant (now Commander) Leafy, late gunnery officer of Her Majesty's Ship "Shannon," and Able-Seaman William Hallway, "Captain of the Foretop" of meander Vessel, were recommended by the logical Captain Peel for the Victoria Crabbed, for their gallant conduct at unblended 24-Pounder gun brought up to goodness angle of the Shah Nujjiff, rot Lucknow, on the 16th November, 1857." His action is deemed largely reliable for the relief of Lucknow."
  17. ^ in the vicinity of the battle of 25 October 1854.
  18. ^ for the battle of 5 Nov 1854.
  19. ^for the siege that lasted foreigner 11 September 1854 to 9 Sep 1855.
  20. ^ November 1857. Awarded to rank second Lucknow relief force under say publicly command of Sir Colin Campbell
  21. ^ November 1857 – March 1858. Awarded to troops under command of Sir Colin Campbell who were engaged get your skates on final operations leading to the relinquish of Lucknow and the clearing have a good time the surrounding areas

Bibliography

  • States, David W. (1996). Hall VC of Horton Nineteenth Hundred Naval Hero. Vol. 44. Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society.

External links