Frederick William Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederick William Hall
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| Born | 21 February 1885 Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Died | 24 April 1915 (aged 30) Poelcappelle, Belgium |
| Service/ |
British Army Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1915 |
| Rank | Company Sergeant-Major |
| Unit | Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) 8th Battalion, CEF |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Frederick William Hall was a very brave soldier. He received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for courage. This special medal is given to soldiers from Britain and Commonwealth countries. Frederick was born in Ireland in 1885. He later moved to Canada. He fought in the First World War and sadly died in 1915.
Early Life and Military Service
Frederick William Hall was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, on February 21, 1885. His father was a soldier in the British Army. Around 1910, Frederick moved to Canada. He made his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
When the First World War started, Frederick joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He became a Company Sergeant-Major in the 8th (Winnipeg Rifles) Battalion. He was 30 years old when he showed amazing bravery during a battle.
His Victoria Cross Action
Frederick Hall earned his Victoria Cross for his actions on April 24, 1915. This happened during the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium. That night, he realized some soldiers were missing. He could hear wounded men calling for help from a nearby ridge.
Under the cover of darkness, Frederick went to the top of the ridge two times. Each time, he brought back a wounded soldier to safety.
By the morning of April 24, some men were still missing. It was daylight, and the enemy was firing heavily. Frederick, along with Corporal Payne and Private Rogerson, crawled out to help. Corporal Payne and Private Rogerson were both wounded, but they made it back to their trench.
Then, a wounded soldier, about 15 yards from the trench, cried for help. Company Sergeant-Major Hall tried to reach him. The enemy was firing directly at him. He made a second, very brave attempt. As he was lifting the wounded man to bring him in, Frederick was shot in the head. He died from his wounds. The soldier he tried to save was also killed.
Frederick Hall's name is on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium. This memorial honors 56,000 soldiers from Britain, Australia, Canada, and India. Their final resting places are unknown.
Valour Road Memorial
Frederick William Hall used to live on Pine Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1925, Pine Street was renamed Valour Road. This was because three soldiers who received the Victoria Cross lived on the same block of that street. These heroes were Frederick Hall, Leo Clarke, and Robert Shankland.
It is believed that Valour Road is the only street in the British Commonwealth where three Victoria Cross recipients lived on the same block. A special bronze plaque is on a street lamp at the corner of Portage Avenue and Valour Road. It tells the story of these three brave men.
