William Halford was born on 18 August 1841 at Gloucester, England. In 1869 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at San Francisco, California and was assigned to the side-wheel steamer USS Saginaw. While on a cruise in the mid-Pacific on 29 October 1870 Saginaw was wrecked on uninhabited Ocean Island, leaving her crew marooned. On 18 November Halford and four others set sail for Hawaii in a small boat to obtain rescue for remainder of the ship's crew. Following a difficult thirty-one day voyage the boat reached Kauai, only to be overwhelmed trying to land through the surf. Halford, the boat's only survivor, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
In further recognition of his exploit, in April 1871 Halford was promoted to the warrant rank of Acting Gunner. During his subsequent career he served in the screw sloops of war Benicia (1872-1875) and Lackawanna (1877-1881) and the cruiser San Francisco (1890-1893), all in the Pacific Ocean. After this last seagoing assignment, Halford was stationed at the Mare Island, Naval Shipyard until his retirement, in the rank of Chief Gunner, in August 1903. At the beginning of July 1918 he was promoted to Lieutenant on the Retired List. William Halford died on 17 February 1919 at Vallejo, California.
USS Halford (DD-480), 1942-1970, was named in honor of Lieutenant William Halford.
This page features the only images we have concerning William Halford.
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Photo #: NH 930 Coxwain William Halford, USN (1841-1919) Halftone reproduction of a portrait photograph taken circa 1870, at about the time he became the sole survivor of USS Saginaw's gig, which was trying to reach the Hawaiian islands to obtain rescue for the ship's crew. Saginaw had been wrecked on Ocean Island, in mid-Pacific on 29 October 1870. Copied from "The Last Cruise of the Saginaw", page 110. Halford was awarded the Medal of Honor and, on 14 April 1871, promoted to the rank of Gunner. He attained the rank of Chief Gunner on 3 March 1899. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 86KB; 445 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 79939 Coxswain William Halford, USN Halftone reproduction of a photograph, published in "Deeds of Valor," Volume II, page 87, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907. William Halford received the Medal of Honor for his voyage in a small boat from Ocean Island to Hawaii to obtain assistance for the marooned crew of USS Saginaw, which had been wrecked on 29 October 1870. He was the sole survivor of this trip. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 67KB; 600 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 54143 USS Benicia (1869-1884) Montage of photographs by Bradley & Rulofson, No. 129 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California, circa mid-1875. A view of the ship, taken off the Mare Island Navy Yard, is in the center. It is surrounded by portrait photographs of her officers. Many of them are identified by hand-written names on the prints. These names are given on Photo # NH 54143 (complete caption). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 249KB; 1200 x 985 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 79940 Coxswain William Halford, USN Halftone reproduction of an artwork, published in "Deeds of Valor," Volume II, page 89, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907. The image depicts Halford capturing an albatross to feed the crew of the launch sent from Ocean Island to Hawaii in search of rescue for the marooned crew of USS Saginaw, which had been wrecked on 29 October 1870. He received the Medal of Honor for this 2000 mile voyage, of which he was the sole survivor. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 61KB; 595 x 765 pixels |
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Medal of Honor citation of Coxswain William Halford (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 58): |
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 20 March 2006
New images added 11 May 2006