William Francis Frederick Waller

William Francis Frederick Waller
Born 20 August 1839
Dagoolie, British India
Died 29 January 1885 (aged 45)
Bath, Somerset
Buried at Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch Bengal Army
British Indian Army
Years of service 1857-
Rank Colonel
Battles/wars Indian Mutiny
Awards Victoria Cross

Colonel 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. He was the son of Thomas Waller & his wife Alicia Ann née Gilbert. He married Mary Anna Grierson on 16 June 1864 at Bombay, India.[1]

Waller was eighteen years old, and a lieutenant in the 25th Bombay Light Infantry during the Indian Mutiny. On 20 June 1858 at Gwalior, British 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 organised 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, taking the fort, killing everyone in it. Rose was killed, but for his part in the action Waller was awarded the Victoria Cross. His citation read:

For great gallantry at the capture by storm of the fortress of Gwalior, on the 20th June, 1858. He and Lieutenant Rose, who was killed, were the only Europeans present, and, with a mere handful of men, they attacked the fortress, climbed -on the roof of a house, shot the, gunners opposed to them, carried all before them, and took the fort, killing every man in it.[2][3]

However, the award was not gazetted until 25 February 1862.[1]

He later achieved the rank of colonel. He died at Bath, Somerset, on 29 January 1885 and is buried there in the Locksbrook Cemetery.[4] His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

References

  1. 1 2 GRAVE LOCATION FOR HOLDERS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS IN THE COUNTY OF AVON at prestel.co.uk, accessed 4 August 2008
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22601. p. 957. 25 February 1862. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  3. ↑ Sharma, Gautam, Valour and Sacrifice: Famous Regiments of the Indian Army (Allied Publishers, 1990, ISBN 978-81-7023-140-0) page 99 at books.google.co.uk, accessed 4 August 2008
  4. ↑ Grave restoration
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