William Hall: Winner of the Victoria Cross

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

In 1859, Able Seaman William Neilson Hall was awarded the Victoria Cross
for bravery. He was the third Canadian to win the medal and the first
person in the British Empire of African decent to be so honored. But
unlike the names of many other Victoria Cross winners, Hall’s name
would quickly fade into obscurity; after his death, his medals would
even be sold to pay off debts the old warrior incurred in retirement.

This book is a fine tribute to a long-forgotten Canadian hero. His
story is not an easy one to document. Before discussing Hall’s
military career, Pachai first sets right some common inaccuracies about
Hall’s life. Pachai notes that on the few existing monuments to the
Seaman, the date and place of his birth, and even Hall’s correct full
name, are wrong. Pachai also struggles with the paradox of Hall’s
heroism. Although Hall was the son of slave parents, he won his Victoria
Cross helping the British imperial forces crush sepoy rebels in the
Great Indian Mutiny of 1857. Pachai presents Hall’s heroism and the
grievances of the Indian mutineers without judging the motives or merit
of either side. The result is that readers are allowed to see William
Hall not only as an authentic Canadian hero but also as a man of his
times. Highly recommended.