Thomas Egerton Hale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Egerton Hale
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Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol
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| Born | 24 September 1832 Nantwich, Cheshire |
| Died | 25 December 1909 (aged 77) Nantwich |
| Buried |
Acton Parish Churchyard
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1854 - 1876 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 7th Regiment of Foot 43rd Regiment of Foot 94th Regiment of Foot |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War Indian Mutiny |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross Order of the Bath |
Thomas Egerton Hale (born September 24, 1832 – died December 25, 1909) was an English doctor who became a military hero. He received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for bravery given to British and Commonwealth soldiers. It's given for amazing courage when facing the enemy. He was also awarded the Order of the Bath.
A Hero in the Crimean War
Thomas Egerton Hale was 22 years old when he showed incredible bravery during the Crimean War. He was an assistant surgeon, which means he was a doctor helping soldiers, in the British Army. His brave actions happened during the Siege of Sevastopol, a long battle in Crimea.
Bravery Under Fire
Dr. Hale was awarded the Victoria Cross for two very brave actions on September 8, 1855:
- Helping a Wounded Officer: During a fierce battle, many soldiers had to retreat. But Dr. Hale stayed with a seriously wounded officer, Captain H. M. Jones. Only one other person, Lieutenant W. Hope, stayed with them. Dr. Hale and Lieutenant Hope even tried to get the other soldiers to come back and fight.
- Rescuing Wounded Soldiers: After the fighting had calmed down and the soldiers had gone back into their trenches (long ditches used for protection), Dr. Hale went back out. He went into the most dangerous area, called the "sap," to find wounded soldiers. Under heavy enemy fire, he carried several injured men from the open ground back to safety. Sergeant Charles Fisher helped him with this dangerous task.
Later Life and Legacy
After the Crimean War, Dr. Hale continued his service. He also served in the Indian Mutiny, another important conflict. He eventually reached the rank of surgeon major, which is a high rank for a military doctor.
Today, you can see Thomas Egerton Hale's Victoria Cross on display. It is kept at the Army Medical Services Museum in Mytchett, Surrey, where people can learn about his amazing bravery and the history of military medicine.
