William Hall

William Nelson Edward Hall (28 April 1827 – 27 August 1904) was the first Black person, first Nova Scotian, and the third Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross due to his actions in the 1857 Siege of Lucknow amid the Indian Rebellion. In the face of heavy enemy fire, Hall and an officer from his ship continued to load and fire a 24-pounder gun at the walls of the Shah Nujeef mosque, a prominent stronghold of the Sepoy defence. Hall's actions were integral to the breaking of the siege and subsequent British evacuation.

Early life William Neilson Hall was born at Horton, Nova Scotia, in 1827 as the son of Jacob and Lucy Hall, who had escaped American 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 movement. 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 at Horton Bluff. Hall first worked in shipyards at nearby Hantsport, Nova Scotia,

Naval career

Hall briefly served in the United States Navy from 1847 to 1849, during the Mexican–American War. He served for a time aboard alongside John Taylor Wood, who later supported Hall's US Navy pension claim.

Hall volunteered for the Royal Navy in February 1852, serving at first aboard . Hall fought in the Crimean War serving ashore in a Naval Brigade from Rodney. Hall served throughout the Siege of Sevastopol from 1854 to 1855, manning the Right Lancaster Battery, and took part in the Battle of Inkerman. After a brief tour on , Hall transferred to the frigate , where he became captain of the foretop.

When the Indian Rebellion 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).

Later career Hall remained with the Royal Navy for the rest of his career. He joined the crew of in 1859. On 28 October 1859, he was presented with the Victoria Cross by Rear Admiral Charles Talbot while Donegal was anchored at Queenstown Harbour. Hall rose to the rating of Petty Officer First Class in 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. In 1901, the future King George V, visiting Nova Scotia, saw Hall at a parade, recognized his medals, and spoke with him.

Commemorations

He was originally buried in an unmarked grave without military honours. He was reinterred in 1954 Hall was designated a National Historic Person by the Canadian Historic Sites and Monuments Board at Hantsport on 8 October 2010 and a new plaque was unveiled in his honour.

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 Highway 101 to Trunk 1 near Hantsport.

The fourth ship in the Royal Canadian Navy's was officially named HMCS William Hall in a ceremony at Irving Shipbuilding's yard in Halifax on 28 April 2023.

Further Information Hall is commemorated in the Ministry of Defence publication "We were there". Its subject is the contribution of ethnic minorities to Britain in times of war. Hall is one of four Victoria Cross winners featured in the brochure: Gian Singh, Abdul Hafiz and Kamal Ram are the others

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

William Hall, VC, Siege of Lucknow, portrait by Frank Briggs (1824–1888), 15 High Street, St. John's Wood, London

With Balaklava clasp With Inkerman clasp

1856 Indian Mutiny Medal With Relief of Lucknow clasp With Lucknow clasp