Canada's First Victoria Cross Winner......

[lizmc]

......was William Neilson Hall, from Nova Scotia and the son of former slaves: thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/william-neilson-hall-for-conspicuous-bravery-feature/

[shangas]

Should point out that to win the Victoria Cross is almost impossible. You almost have to die to win it. In fact a number people DID die to win it, and were awarded it posthumously. Victoria Cross winners are very very rare.

Also, the Victoria Cross is taken from a cannonball. Did you know that? Every cross is taken from metal cut out of a cannonball that was fired during the Crimean War. Once that cannonball is gone...no more crosses. Either that, or they'll have to find another one.

[lizmc]

Feb 24, 2016 23:52:45 GMT shangas said:

Should point out that to win the Victoria Cross is almost impossible. You almost have to die to win it. In fact a number people DID die to win it, and were awarded it posthumously. Victoria Cross winners are very very rare.

Also, the Victoria Cross is taken from a cannonball. Did you know that? Every cross is taken from metal cut out of a cannonball that was fired during the Crimean War. Once that cannonball is gone...no more crosses. Either that, or they'll have to find another one.

I take great pride in having met a Victoria Cross winner, Frederick Tilson from WWII.  He was in his 80s when I met him and quite the character.  Here is some information on him: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Albert_Tilston

I think the Victoria Cross is actually struck from captured Russian cannon, rather than cannon balls, from the Crimean War....the Battle of Sevastopol, if I'm not mistaken.......

[shangas]

It's from SOMETHING related to the Crimean War. I don't remember exactly what. I always thought it was cannonballs.

[lizmc]

Definitely bronze from guns: www.victoriacross.org.uk/aahistor.htm (Interesting the guns turned out to be Chinese instead of Russian.....everyone thought they were Russian at the time.)

There is apparently only enough bronze left to make 70 more medals......