“Home on Leave, They Relate Experiences,” Windsor Star. February 11, 1942. Page 3.
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YOUNG in years, but already old in battle experiences, are Able Seaman Al Parry, 21, of 366 Chippewa street, left, and Stoker Duncan Mclntire, 19, of 3407 Peter street. They enlisted together, are home on leave together. Both agree Windsor girls are the most beautiful in the world. And, girls, they are home for three weeks!
William Hall was the first black man and the third Canadian to ever win the Victoria Cross.
He was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, to Jacob and Lucy Hall. Hall’s parents escaped slavery when the ship transporting them to the plantations of the southern states was seized by the British Frigate HMS Leopard. Black refugees from captured ships of the War of 1812 were to be taken to British colonies to live freely. Hall’s parents were released in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and employed as farm hands.
In 1852, Hall found himself in Liverpool where he joined the Royal Navy. The recruiting officer enquired the reason a Nova Scotian would fight for the Queen. Hall answered that the Royal Navy had saved his parents from a life of slavery, and that he wanted to repay that debt.
Hall served on HMS Rodney for two years in the Crimean War, receiving British and Turkish medals for manning heavy artillery during this campaign.
When the Indian Mutiny broke out in May 1857, Hall was aboard the HMS Shannon en route to China. She was ordered to change course for Calcutta. A Naval Brigade was formed of several gunners, sailors, and marines from several ships, under Captain William Peel, the third son of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel. After HMS Shannon journeyed up the Ganges to Allahabad, the brigade fought across land to reach Cawnpore. Peel’s forces arrived in time to take part in the Relief of Lucknow, where Hall earned his Victoria Cross.
On 16 November 1857, naval artillery was brought close to the walls of the Shah Nujeff mosque in Lucknow. The British forces were attempting to breach and clear the walls, but the mutineers fighting from inside the mosque inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking British using grenades and musket fire. In the end, only Hall and Lieutenant Thomas James Young, the battery's commander, were left alive. Between them they operated the last gun at a distance less than 20 yards from the wall, until it was finally breached.
I remember that 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 from the walls we were bombarding.
-William Hall
Hall remained with the Royal Navy until his retirement in 1876. He moved back to Nova Scotia in near anonymity, living peacefully on a farm with his sisters. However in 1901, when His Royal Highness, the Duke of Cornwall and York, the future King George V, visited Nova Scotia, Hall attended the welcome parade wearing his Victoria Cross and other service medals. The Duke noticed the medals and struck up a conversation with Hall. Able Seaman William Hall is today commemorated as a Canadian military hero and an important figure of Black history.
