William Hope (VC) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Hope
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Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol
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| Born | 12 April 1834 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 17 December 1909 (aged 75) Chelsea, London |
| Buried |
Brompton Cemetery
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 7th Regiment of Foot |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War |
| Awards |
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| Relations | John Hope (father) |
William Hope was a brave Scottish soldier. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on April 12, 1834. He became famous for receiving the Victoria Cross. This is the highest award a soldier can get for showing great courage. It is given to British and Commonwealth forces.
William Hope's father was John Hope, a very important judge in Scotland. William went to private schools and then to Trinity College, Cambridge. He later became a colonel in the army.
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William Hope's Bravery in Battle
William Hope was 21 years old during the Crimean War. He was a lieutenant in the 7th Regiment of Foot. This regiment is now known as The Royal Fusiliers.
A Heroic Rescue at Sevastopol
On June 18, 1855, a battle was happening at Sebastopol. An officer was badly hurt and lying outside the trenches. Trenches are long, narrow ditches used for protection. Lieutenant Hope bravely went to help him.
He found that he could not move the wounded officer alone. Even with four other men, it was too hard. So, Lieutenant Hope ran back across open ground. Enemy guns were firing heavily at him. He got a stretcher to carry the injured officer to safety. This act of courage earned him the Victoria Cross.
Life After the War
After the war, William Hope continued his military career. He eventually became a colonel. He also invented a special type of shell for guns. This shell was called a shrapnel shell. Colonel Hope was also a big supporter of volunteer soldiers. He even led the 1st City of London Artillery Volunteers.
The Victoria Cross Medal
William Hope's Victoria Cross medal is very special. You can see it today at the Royal Fusiliers Museum. This museum is located in the famous Tower of London in England.
