William Francis Frederick Waller

William Francis Frederick Waller VC (20 August 1839-29 January 1885) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Waller was born at Dagoolie, India, on 20 August 1839. [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/avon.htm GRAVE LOCATION FOR HOLDERS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS IN THE COUNTY OF AVON] at prestel.co.uk, accessed 4 August 2008]

Waller was eighteen years old, and a Lieutenant in the 25th Bombay Light Infantry during the Indian Mutiny. On 20 June 1858 at Gwalior, India, Waller and another officer who was killed during the action, Lieutenant Rose, were the only Europeans present at the storming of the Gwalior Fort. With a handful of men they organized a surprise attack by night on the fort, climbing onto the roof of a house, shooting the gunners who opposed them, and, after hand-to-hand fighting, taaking the fort, killing everyone in it. Rose was killed, but for his part in the action Waller was awarded the Victoria Cross. [Sharma, Gautam, "Valour and Sacrifice: Famous Regiments of the Indian Army" (Allied Publishers, 1990, ISBN 978-8170231400) [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xLrTzZd0j1kC&pg=PA99&lpg=PA99&dq=%22The+5th+(Napier's)%22&source=web&ots=bLaCC5ZUWm&sig=BTIKbGaeQjWXeD8lZmeCq-XQfmA&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result page 99] at books.google.co.uk, accessed 4 August 2008] However, the award was not gazetted until 25 February 1862.

He later achieved the rank of Colonel. He died at Bath, Somerset, on 29 January 1885 and is buried there in the Locksbrook Cemetery.

References

External links

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7827991 Portrait photograph and short biography of Waller] at findagrave.com
* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/avon.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Avon)"
* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/aaauctio.htm VC medal auction details]