Surgeon Herbert Taylor Reade

Herbert Taylor Reade was born in Perth, Upper Canada (Ontario) on 20th September 1828. Herbert's father was Staff Surgeon George Hume Reade who was the Colonel of the 3rd Regiment of the Leeds Militia in Upper Canada (Ontario) who was killed in action during the Crimean War.

Herbert Reade joined the British Army in November, 1850 as an Assistant Surgeon in the 61st Regiment of Foot, later to be known as the Gloucestershire Regiment. In 1857 he was promoted to Staff Surgeon 2nd class.  Reade saw action at the Siege of Delhi on September 14, 1857, during the Indian Mutiny,

The Victory Cross Citation published in the London Gazzette, 5th of February, 1861 read: "During the siege of Delhi, on 14th September, 1857 while Surgeon Reade was attending to the wounded, at the end of one of the streets of the city, a party of rebels advanced from the direction of the Bank, and having established themselves in the houses in the street commenced firing from the roofs. The wounded were thus in very great danger, and would have fallen into the hands of the enemy had not Surgeon Reade drawn his sword, and calling upon the few soldiers who were near to follow, succeeded, under a very heavy fire, in dislodging the rebels from their position. Surgeon Reade's party consisted of about ten in all, of whom two were killed and five or six wounded.

Surgeon Reade also accompanied the regiment at the assault of Delhi, and on the morning to the 16th September, 1857, was one of the first to breach in the magazine, which was stormed by the 61st Regiment and Belooch Battalion, upon which occasion he, with a Sergeant of the 61st Regiment, spiked one of the enemy's guns."

Herbert Reade returned to England in 1886 and was promoted to Surgeon General. He retired from the military in 1887. His other honours include a Mention in Dispatched for promotion for his actions during the Indian Mutiny, a Companion in the Most Honourable Order of the Bath and in 1895 he was made Honourary Surgeon to Queen Victoria.

Hebert Taylor Reade died 23rd of June, 1897 in Bath, England. He is buried in Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath, England.

His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum in Gloucester, England.

William Nelson Edward Hall

The Date of Birth for William Hall is not know for sure, but consensus is that he was born in Horton's Buff Nova Scotia, on April 28, 1827. His parents were free Black slaves, rescued from slavery by a British Frigate during the War of 1812. He joined the crew of a Trading Vessel and by the age of 18 had seen many of the most important ports in the world.

In 1852 he enlisted in the Royal Navy and served as an Able Seaman during the Crimean War and won the Turkish and British Crimean Medal with "Sevastopol" and "Inkerman" clasp.He was a member of the Naval Brigade and assisted ground forces by manning heavy guns.
During the India Uprising, Hall was appointed "Captain of the Foretop" aboard the HMS Shannon. Hall and a Brigade of soldiers were ordered to head to Lucknow to relieve the British Garrison.

Hall was a member of a four man gun crew that was supporting British troops trying to breach the walls of the Shah Najal Mosque. The guns were under Rebel fire and all but Hall and an officer, Lieutenant James Young were killed. After Young was injured Hall continued to load and fire the last gun, until the wall was breached, giving the British garrison enough room to scramble through.

The Victoria Cross Citation Published in the London Gazzette February 1, 1859 read: "Lieutenant (now Commander) Young, late Gunnery Officer of Her Majesty's Ship "Shannon" and William Hall, "Captain of the Foretop" of that vessel, were recommended by the late Captain Peel for the Victoria Cross for their gallant conduct at a 24 Pounder gun brought up to the angle of the Shah Nujjif at Lucknow, on the 16th November 1857."

William Hall was the first Nova Scotian and first Black person to receive the Victoria Cross.
He retired in 1876 with the rank of Petty Officer First Class. He returned to Nova Scotia and lived with his sisters on a farm. Hall lived in relative obscurity and unfortunately, he died on August 25, 1904 (of paralysis) in poverty and anonymity and his Victoria Cross was sold to settle his estate debts.  He was buried in an unmarked grave without military honours. It seems Black people in Canada at that time were not well respected.  In 1954 his body was re-interned in the grounds of Hartsport Baptist Church. A cairn was erected in his honour which included an enlarged bronze replica of his Victoria Cross.

In 1967 his medals were returned to Canada from England and are on display at the Nova Scotia Museum in Halifax. His Victoria Cross is on a Blue Ribbon to represent the Royal Navy. Since 1918 all Victoria Cross Medals are on a Crimson Ribbon.

Obituary from The Register, Berwick, N.S.

September 8, 1904

William Hall, V.C.

William Hall, of Horton Bluff, the colored man who won the Victoria Cross during the Indian Rebellion, died on Thursday, August 25^th, aged 78 years. Mr. Hall entered the British navy at an early age, and served his country faithfully for many years. At the relief of Lucknow he was one of a squad of mariners who volunteered for a very difficult service, and he received the Cross for standing to his gun while the company were engaged in blowing open a gate to make an entrance to the city. He and another man were left alone to work the gun, their comrades having been killed, and by their pluck and perseverance succeeded in effecting an entrance for the British troops. Twenty years ago Mr. Hall left the navy and settled at Horton Bluff, where he has dwelt since on a small farm. He was well known, and highly respected by all. At the time of the visit of the Duke of York to Halifax Mr. Hall journeyed to the city, and was kindly received by His Royal Highness. He is said to have been the only colored man who ever held the coveted Victoria Cross. He was unmarried, and lived with two sisters, Mrs. Robinson and Miss Rachel Hall. The funeral took place on Saturday, burial being made at the Brooklyn cemetery, near Lockhartville. – Acadian.

Alexander Dunn

Alexander Dunn was born in York, Upper Canada (Toronto, Ontario) on September 15, 1833. In 1852 he joined the British Army's (Prince Albert's Own) 11th Hussars as a junior officer, who was known as a strong disciplinarian but nevertheless was popular with the men who served under him.  At the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854 the 11th Hussars with Alexander Dunn were sent to Russia.

On October 25, 1854 at the Battle of Balaclava Lt. Dunn took part in the "Charge of the Light Brigade." Lieutenant Dunn in command of F Troop 11th Hussar joined with the Light Calvary, charged into what became known as the "Valley of Death." the valley was flanked on both sides by high slopes which were defended by Russian Troops and Artillery and a 12 gun battery placed wheel to wheel at the end of the valley. During the battle Lieutenant Dunn saw Sergeant Bentley struggling with his horse and three Russians attacking him. Lieutenant Dunn rushed to his aid and within minutes killed them. He put Bentley on his horse and sent the horse towards British lines. He then saw Private Levett of his troop on foot and in danger of being killed by a Russian Hussar. Lieutenant Dunn went to his aid and cut the Hussar down with his sword. When Dunn got back and found out how badly his unit had been decimated he broke down and cried. Out of the 110 cavalrymen making up the 11th Hussars only 25 survived.

His Victoria Cross Citation published in the London Gazette of February 24, 1857 read: " For having in the Light Cavalry charge on the 25th of October 1854, saved the life of Sergeant Bentley 11th Hussars by cutting down two or three Russian Lancers who were attacking him from the rear and afterwards cutting down a Russian Hussar who was attacking Private Levett 11th Hussars." Lieutenant Dunn is considered the 1st Canadian awarded the Victoria Cross.
Lieutenant Dunn died near Senafe Abysinnia 25 of January 1868 the circumstances are clouded with mystery. The official unit reported he died when his hunting rifle accidentally discharged.

Canadian Heroes

As someone who has always held the highest respect for those who have fought for freedom, I thought I would use this blog as a way of remembering Canadians, who in my opinion are heroes. I will write about Canadians who have fought wearing the uniform of the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadians who have fought wearing the uniform of other countries. This blog does not make light of what Canadians in uniform have done, for they are all heroes, but will highlight those who have made a difference with their extraordinary deeds of bravery.

I thought that I would start with those Canadians who have won the Victoria Cross for Bravery.
This post will give the history of the Victoria Cross in Canada. The Victoria Cross was instituted in 1856 by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It is the highest military decoration for gallantry in the British Commonwealth. There have been 94 Canadian recipients (living and posthumous) since it's inception.

The decoration is in the form of a bronze cross patee bearing the royal crest and the words "For Valour." The ribbon is dark crimson.

In 1972, Pierre Elliot Trudeau's Liberal Government decided that Canadian Armed Forces personnel should receive Canadian Decorations not British Awards and they dropped the Victoria Cross. This incensed many Veterans and active members of the Canadian Armed Forces. They thought that this action diminished the memories of the many acts of gallantry that recipients of the award had done.
In 1987, Brian Mulroneys Conservative Government asked the Chancellery of Canadian Orders and Decorations to consider its' reinstatement. On February 2, 1993 Queen Elizabeth II approved the creation of a Canadian Victoria Cross Medal. The medal resembles the original except the English inscription "For Valour" has been replaced by the Latin "Pro Valore."

No Canadian Victoria Cross has ever been awarded.