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William Hall joined the Royal Navy when he was
just 12 years old.He was a sailor for 26 years and in 1857 became the first
Canadian sailor and also the first black man to win the Victoria Cross,for
bravery in war.It is the highest military honour in the British
Commonwealth. |
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Born in 1821 at Horton’s Bluff,Kings County,Nova
Scotia,Hall was son of slaves freed when the ship carrying them, HMS
Victory and was given medals for actions in the Battle of Inkerman during
the Crimean War in 1853 and also the Siege of Sebastopol.He won |
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The Victoria Cross fighting in India where
rebels in the Indian Army were attempting to break away from British
rule.Hall volunteered to join a gun crew whose job was to make a hole in
the walls that surrounded the city of Lucknow.During the fierce fighting,
with most of the others killed or injured,Hall kept the cannon firing until
part of the wall finally fell. |
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William Hall was born of April 28,1821 in
Horton’s Bluff,Nova Scotia.He was the son of slaves. |
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He died at home in Avonport,Nova Scotia on
August.27th,1904.He was buried in Hantsport,Nova Scotia. |
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His memorial read as follows… |
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1.William Hall worked in a shipyard before he
joined the navy. |
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2.William Hall was born in the age of wooden
ships. |
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3.He joined a crew of trading vessels when he
was young. |
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William Hall was the first Black man and the
first Nova Scotian sailor to earn a Victoria Cross for valor. |
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This picture is a replica of the Victoria Cross
that he won.Which was indented in his memorial. |
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William Hall was the first black man and the
first Canadian to earn a Victoria Cross. |
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William Hall was born in Horton’s Bluff where he
also attended school. |
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Lieutenant T.J. Young |
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T.J.
was one of the only survivers of the attack on the mosque along with
William Hall and another man |
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2.
Captain Peel |
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Peel
was the man the requested William Hall for a Victoria Cross he as well
requested Lieutenant T.J. Young for a Victoria Cross. |
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www.Wikipedia.com |
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www.mysteriesofcanada.com |
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www.blackhistorysociety.ca |
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www.stemnet.nf.ca |
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www.canada-heros.com |
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Notes
