William Hall

William Hall – Life, Service, and Legacy of a Canadian Naval Hero

William Hall (1827–1904) was a Canadian-born sailor and the first Black Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross. Learn about his early life, naval career, heroic act at Lucknow, and how his legacy lives on.

Introduction

William Hall is a figure of both Canadian and imperial military history, celebrated as the first Black Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross. Born in Nova Scotia, he served in both the United States and British navies over a long career spanning the mid-19th century. His most famed moment came during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, where his bravery in lifting the Siege of Lucknow earned him the highest British military honor. Though he died in obscurity, later generations have revived his memory—naming ships, monuments, and historical designations in his honor.

Early Life and Family

William Hall was born on 28 April 1827 (though some sources give 25 April 1829) in Horton, Nova Scotia (also known as Horton Bluff), part of present-day Hants County. His parents, Jacob (or Jacques) Hall and Lucy (or Lucinda) Hall, were among the Black refugees who had escaped slavery in the United States and come to Nova Scotia after the War of 1812. Early on, the Hall family lived near Summerville before moving across the Avon River to a farm in Horton Bluff.

Growing up in Nova Scotia’s shipbuilding region, young William worked in local shipyards before going to sea as a teenager—initially aboard merchant vessels operating out of Minas Basin and nearby ports.

Youth and Early Maritime Experience

William’s maritime life began early. By his late teens, he was already sailing with merchant ships. United States Navy during the Mexican–American War (in the late 1840s).

However, his more definitive naval career began when he enlisted in the Royal Navy in February 1852 as an able seaman. HMS Rodney, and he later took part in the Crimean War, serving in a naval brigade on land during sieges such as Sevastopol and at the Battle of Inkerman.

Military Service and Heroism

Service in Crimea

During the Crimean War (1853–1856), William Hall’s service was noteworthy. He served with the naval brigade that operated heavy artillery on land, contributing to the Siege of Sevastopol and being present at the Battle of Inkerman.

The Indian Rebellion & Siege of Lucknow

The defining moment of Hall’s career—and the deed that earned him the Victoria Cross—came during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (also called the Indian Mutiny).

• In 1856, Hall was assigned to HMS Shannon, which was later redirected to India to assist British efforts in suppressing the rebellion.

• As part of the Shannon’s naval brigade, Hall and his comrades dragged heavy guns inland, sometimes over long and arduous distances, to reach Lucknow, where British forces were besieged.

• On 16 November 1857, at the walls of the Shah Nujjif mosque (a strongpoint of defense within Lucknow), the gun crews came under intense fire. Most of the crew were killed or wounded. Only Hall and a Lieutenant, Thomas James Young, remained able to operate one of the 24-pounder guns.

• Despite the danger, they loaded, sponged, ran forward, and fired the gun until the wall was breached, facilitating the British assault and eventual relief of the city.

• Hall is quoted:

  “After each round we ran our gun forward, until at last my gun’s crew were actually in danger of being hurt by splinters of brick and stone torn by the round shot …”

For this extraordinary valor, both Hall and Young were awarded the Victoria Cross, with Hall receiving his medal on 28 October 1859 aboard HMS Donegal in Queenstown Harbor (Ireland).

Hall thus became the first Black person, the first Nova Scotian, and one of the early Canadian-linked recipients of the Victoria Cross.

Later Naval Career & Retirement

Following his recognition, Hall remained in Royal Navy service across various ships (including HMS Bellerophon, Hero, Impregnable, Petrel, and Royal Adelaide) until 1876. Quartermaster (or Petty Officer First Class) before retiring.

After leaving the Navy, Hall returned to Nova Scotia and lived with his sisters on a farm near Hantsport / Avonport.

Personality, Challenges, and Later Life

William Hall was known to be modest and unassuming. In later life, he viewed his Victoria Cross with pragmatism:

“It isn’t worth very much … after all, only ten pounds a year. If it wasn’t for my regular navy pension of forty pounds a year … I don’t know how we’d get along here.”

He generally lived quietly and avoided public attention. In 1901, during a visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (later King George V) to Nova Scotia, Hall attended a parade wearing his medals. The Duke noticed them and inquired—bringing late recognition to his service.

William Hall died on 27 August 1904 in Avonport, Nova Scotia.

In 1945, his remains were exhumed and reinterred in the grounds of Hantsport Baptist Church. A memorial cairn, topped with a replica of his Victoria Cross, marks his grave.

Legacy and Commemoration

Though his heroism was underappreciated in his lifetime, William Hall’s legacy has grown significantly in modern Canadian memory.

• His original Victoria Cross and other service medals are now on display at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax.

• Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp honoring William Hall on 1 February 2010.

• In 2010, he was designated a National Historic Person by the Canadian Historic Sites and Monuments Board.

• A connector road in Hantsport was named the William Hall V.C. Memorial Highway.

• In June 2015, it was announced that the Royal Canadian Navy’s Arctic & Offshore Patrol Ship HMCS William Hall would be named in his honor—making him the first Black Canadian to have a major naval vessel bear his name.

• More broadly, Hall is recognized as a symbol of Black Canadian and Nova Scotian military heritage, as well as the contributions of Black servicemen in colonial-era conflicts.

Famous Quotes and Reflections

William Hall is not known for a vast collection of recorded quotations, but a few remarks reflect his perspective later in life:

“It isn’t worth very much … after all, only ten pounds a year. If it wasn’t for my regular navy pension … I don’t know how we’d get along here.”

“After each round we ran our gun forward, until at last my gun’s crew were actually in danger …” (on his action at Lucknow)

These statements reveal a man of practicality, humility, and focus on duty rather than glory.

Lessons from William Hall

1. Courage in adversity: Hall’s act at Lucknow—standing alone at a gun under fire—illustrates that heroism can emerge in bleakest moments.

2. Quiet dignity: His modesty and reluctance to self-promote contrast with many famous military figures.

3. Legacy delayed but enduring: Though buried in anonymity, decades later his recognition has become part of national memory.

4. Representation matters: As a Black Canadian hero in the 19th century, Hall challenges narratives of exclusion and raises awareness of contributions by historically marginalized communities.

5. Service over fame: Hall’s remarks suggest he valued duty and commitment more than accolades.

Conclusion

William Hall’s life bridges local Canadian roots, global imperial conflict, and the long arc of recognition for unsung heroes. His bravery in the line of fire during the Indian Rebellion earned him a place in history, yet his humility and late rediscovery speak to how many such figures fade from collective memory. Today, with ships named after him, stamps commemorating him, and his story showcased in museums, Hall stands as a symbol—not just of military valor—but of neglected legacies reclaimed.