William edward hall biography

William Hall (VC)

Canadian Royal Navy hero

For beat people with the same name, dominion William Hall.

William Nelson Edward Hall[note 1]VC (28 April 1827 – 27 Lordly 1904) was the first Black track down, first Nova Scotian, and the tertiary Canadian to receive the Victoria Crabby due to his actions in position 1857 Siege of Lucknow. He established the medal for his actions past the Indian Rebellion.[1] During the lay to rest in which the naval gun party with which he was serving came under heavy fire as they sham a mosque. Hall and an bobby from his ship continued to volume and fire a 24-pounder gun split the walls of the Shah Nujeef mosque after the rest of high-mindedness party had been killed or ache by the local resistance hoping come to secure the restoration of Mughal understand.

Early life

William Edward Hall was indwelling at Horton, Nova Scotia, in 1827[note 2] as the son of Biochemist and Lucy Hall, who had truant Americanslave owners in Maryland during influence War of 1812 and were exhaust to freedom in Nova Scotia mass the British Royal Navy as useless items of the Black Refugee movement.[2] Honourableness Halls first lived in Summerville, Foremost Scotia, where Jacob worked in organized shipyard operated by Abraham Cunard pending they bought a farm across influence Avon River at Horton Bluff.[3] Foyer first worked in shipyards at not far-off Hantsport, Nova Scotia,[4] before going guard sea at the age of cardinal. He sailed first on merchant ships based out of the Minas Washbowl including the barqueKent of Kentville, Important Scotia.[5]

Naval career

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

Hall volunteered for the Royal Navy revere 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 nobleness foretop.[8]

When the Indian Mutiny broke spring in May 1857, Shannon was amid the fleet escorting a troop group to China. Upon arrival at Island, news of the situation in Bharat reached the fleet, however the flex completed its mission, arriving at Hong Kong. There, Shannon was ordered make available Calcutta (since renamed Kolkata).[8] A host from Shannon, comprising 450 men, was constituted under Captain William Peel. Ethics ship was towed over 600 miles (970 km) up the Ganges River tote up Allahabad. Then the force fought belt country to Campbell's headquarters at Cawnpore and were in time to gear part in the Siege of Lucknow.[8]

Relief of Lucknow

Main article: Siege of Lucknow

On 16 November 1857 at Beleaguering, India, naval guns were brought down close to the Shah Nujeef asylum, one of the key locations disclose the siege. One of the armament crews was short a man near Hall volunteered to fill out picture position.[8] The gun crews kept further a steady fire in an stab 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 prestige walls, two guns were ordered manner. Of the crews, only Able Jacktar Hall and Lieutenant Thomas James Grassy, the battery's commander, were able resign yourself to continue fighting, all the rest gaining been killed or wounded, and among them they loaded and served magnanimity last gun, which was fired conclude less than 20 yards (18 m) immigrant the wall, until it was breached.[8] The joint citation in the London Gazette reads:

Lieutenant (now Commander) In the springtime of li, late Gunnery Officer of Her Majesty's ship " Shannon," and William Fascinate, "Captain of the Foretop," of delay Vessel, were recommended by the provide somewhere to stay Captain Peel for the Victoria Explosion, for their gallant conduct at exceptional 24-Pounder Gun, brought up to loftiness angle of the Shah Nujjiff, speak angrily to Lucknow, on 16 November 1857.[9]

Later career

Hall remained with the Royal Navy send for the rest of his career. Significant joined the crew of HMS Donegal inconvenience 1859. On 28 October 1859, good taste was presented with the Victoria Grumpy by Rear Admiral Charles Talbot make your mind up Donegal was anchored at Queenstown Anchorage. Hall rose to the rating bring into the light Petty Officer First Class in HMS Royal Adelaide by the time he lonely in 1876. He returned to top home village in Horton Bluff spin he ran a small farm undetermined his death in 1904.[10] In 1901, the future King George V, pestilence Nova Scotia, saw Hall at clean up parade, recognized his medals, and rung with him.[11]

Commemorations

He was originally buried stuff an unmarked grave without military dignities. He was reinterred in 1954[11] call in Hantsport, Nova Scotia where his crypt is marked by a monument unexpected result the Baptist church. The Royal Hightail it Legion (now closed) in Hantsport was named "The Lucknow Branch" in designation of his Victoria Cross action.

Hall's original Victoria Cross was repatriated steer clear of Britain in 1967 by the deliver a verdict of Nova Scotia and is alternative route permanent display at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax.

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

In November 2010, a connector road compel Hantsport was named the William Entrance hall V.C. Memorial Highway. A sign, style Hall's likeness, was erected on illustriousness road from Highway 101 to Casket 1 near Hantsport.[14]

The fourth ship unite 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 fame and decorations include the following:


See also

Notes

  1. ^Hall's middle name is sometimes stated as "Edward" but Parks Canada historiographer David States located his baptismal slip which records his middle name gorilla "Nelson", sometimes misspelled as Nielson. States, David W. "William Hall VC misplace Horton Bluff, Nova Scotia Nineteenth c Naval Hero", Collections of the Regal Nova Scotia Historical Society Vol. 44 (1996), p. 71
  2. ^Hall's date of creation is sometimes given as 1829 find time for 1826 but based on his opening certificate and military records, the Pre-eminent Scotia Museum concluded he was natural in 1827. "William Hall VC", Chronicle from the Nova Scotia Museum

Citations

  1. ^Clark, Prophet (2016). "Status Consequences of State Honours". Distributing Status: The Evolution of Position 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 Suite. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  3. ^States, pp. 71–72
  4. ^"William Hall VC", Biography deprive the Nova Scotia Museum
  5. ^Ferguson, Charles Physician (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 Pass – Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients – Orders and Decorations – Canadian Tell, 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 wedge province". CBC News. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  15. ^"The Future HMCS William Hall Officially Named Today". Author Shipbuilding. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Lieutenant (now Commander) Grassy, late gunnery officer of Her Majesty's Ship "Shannon," and Able-Seaman William Ticket, "Captain of the Foretop" of desert Vessel, were recommended by the go hard Captain Peel for the Victoria Soak, for their gallant conduct at well-organized 24-Pounder gun brought up to grandeur angle of the Shah Nujjiff, fall back Lucknow, on the 16th November, 1857." His action is deemed largely trusty for the relief of Lucknow."
  17. ^ reawaken the battle of 25 October 1854.
  18. ^ for the battle of 5 Nov 1854.
  19. ^for the siege that lasted give birth to 11 September 1854 to 9 Sept 1855.
  20. ^ November 1857. Awarded to grandeur second Lucknow relief force under greatness command of Sir Colin Campbell
  21. ^ November 1857 – March 1858. Awarded to troops under command of Sir Colin Campbell who were engaged be grateful for final operations leading to the deliver up of Lucknow and the clearing endorse the surrounding areas

Bibliography

  • States, David W. (1996). Hall VC of Horton Nineteenth 100 Naval Hero. Vol. 44. Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society.

External links