Town of Hantsport

William Hall Memorial

William Hall, V.C. the first Nova Scotian, and the First Man of colour to win the Empire's highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross.

Born in Horton, Nova Scotia April 28th, 1827. Died in Avonport Nova Scotia August 25th, 1904.

On November 16th, 1857, when serving in H.M.S. Shannon, Hall was part of a crew under the command of Lieutenant T.J Young. Put in charge of a 24-pound gun, near the angle of the Shah Najaf mosque in Lucknow, India, Hall continued to load and fire his gun until the wall of the Shah Najaf was breached and the relief of Lucknow had been assured.  At the end of the day, William Hall and Lieutenant T.J Young were the only two survivors of H.M.S Shannon crew.  It was for this victorious act, which William Hall received the Victoria Cross.