William Edward Hall
William Edward Hall was a significant figure in Canadian military history, born to former enslaved individuals who escaped to Nova Scotia during the War of 1812. After working in local shipyards and joining the American merchant navy, Hall enlisted in the British Royal Navy in 1852. He served bravely during the Crimean War and was involved in key battles, including the siege of Sebastopol and the battle of Inkerman, earning Turkish and British medals for his service.
Hall gained particular recognition for his role during the Indian Mutiny at the siege of Lucknow in 1857, where his actions as part of a heavy gun crew earned him the Victoria Cross, the highest honor for bravery in the British Empire. Following his retirement in 1876 with the rank of quartermaster, Hall returned to Nova Scotia, where he farmed until his death in 1904. His legacy is commemorated in various ways, including the display of his medals at the Nova Scotia Museum, recognition as a National Historic Person, and the naming of a Royal Canadian Navy ship after him. Hall's contributions and heroism continue to be celebrated, reflecting his impact on Canadian history and military heritage.
William Edward Hall
Naval officer
- Born: April 25, 1829
- Birthplace: Nova Scotia
- Died: August 25, 1904
- Place of death: Avonport, Nova Scotia
Also known as: William Hall; William Neilson Hall
Significance: William Edward Hall was an officer in the British Royal Navy. He was the first person from Nova Scotia to receive the Victoria Cross. He was also the first black person and the third Canadian to receive this award.
Background
William Edward Hall was the son of Lucy and Jacob Hall, two former slaves who had escaped from Maryland. They arrived as refugees brought to Nova Scotia during the War of 1812 by the British Royal Navy. Jacob Hall was a worker in a shipyard until the family was able to afford a farm in the area of Horton Bluff, where Hall was born along with six other siblings.
Hall attended school and worked in the local shipyards. In 1844 he joined the crew of a merchant ship and left Nova Scotia. He reportedly joined the American merchant navy for several years before enlisting as an able seaman in the British Royal Navy in 1852.
Life’s Work
Hall was aboard the HMS Rodney in the Crimean War and served during the siege of Sebastapol (1854–55) and the battle of Inkerman (1854) in the present-day area of the Ukraine. He later received Turkish and British medals for his service there.
Hall joined the frigate HMS Shannon in 1856, eventually serving as captain of the foretop. While voyaging to China in 1857, the HMS Shannon was intercepted and rerouted to Calcutta (Kolkata) to aid the British army during the Indian Mutiny, in which Indian soldiers (known as sepoys) serving under British officers rebelled. As part of the naval brigade of gunners and marines sent to relieve the British garrison besieged at Lucknow, Hall was a member of one of four heavy gun crews under concentrated fire from mutineers defending Shah Najaf mosque. On November 16, 1857, Hall and the only other surviving member of the gun crews, Lieutenant James Young, were able to operate the guns until the mosque walls were breached, which enabled British troops to lift the siege.
After the siege of Lucknow, Hall remained a member of the Royal Navy and became a part of the crew of the HMS Donegal, sailing aboard in 1859. On October 28 of that year, he was given the honor of the Victoria Cross (VC), the British Empire’s highest award for bravery, to honor his actions during the siege. He received the award aboard the HMS Donegal while it was anchored at Queenstown Harbor, Ireland. Hall served on several other Royal Navy ships, including the HMS Bellerophon, HMS Hero, HMS Petrel, the HMS Impregnable, and the HMS Royal Adelaide.
Hall retired in 1876 after achieving the rank of quartermaster and a certificate of good conduct. He met the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall when they visited Halifax in 1901. During a parade of veterans in his honor, the Duke (later King George V) commented on Hall’s Victoria Cross medal, which heightened interest in Hall’s achievements.
Impact
The Victoria Cross given to Hall, along with his three other medals, are the property of the province of Nova Scotia and are located at the Nova Scotia Museum’s Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax. Hall is honored in several other places, including the Halifax Citadel and the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia. In 2010 he was featured on a Canada Post stamp and recognized as a National Historic Person by the Canadian Historic Sites and Monuments Board. The Royal Canadian Legion calls itself the "Lucknow Branch" in honor of Hall and his service at the Siege of Lucknow. In 2015, a new ship in the Royal Canadian Navy was announced and that it would be named after Hall and his efforts.
Personal Life
After his retirement, Hall returned to Nova Scotia, where he had his own farm along with two of his sisters, Mary Hall and Rachel Robinson. Hall died of paralysis on August 25, 1904, in Avonport. He was initially buried without honors at Lockhartville, but in 1954 his body was moved to the grounds of the Hantsport Baptist Church, where he was given military honors and members of the Royal Canadian Legion built a special cairn in his memory.
Bibliography
"Able-Seaman William Neilson Edward Hall." Veterans Affairs Canada. Govt. of Canada, 23 Oct. 2014. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.
Bishop, Arthur. "Canada and the Victoria Cross: Of Rebellion and Rescue Part 2 of 18." Legion: Canada's Military History Magazine. Legion Magazine, 1 Mar. 2004. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.
Pachai, Bridglal. "Hall, William." Dictionary of Canadian Biography. U of Toronto, 2015. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.
Pulsifer, Cameron. "William Neilson Hall." The Canadian Encyclopedia. The Canadian Encyclopedia, 4 Mar. 2015. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.
"William Hall." Historica Canada: Black History Canada. Historica-Dominion Inst., n.d. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.
"William Hall, VC." Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Nova Scotia Museum, 2016. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.