William Gardner VC

Name: William Gardner

Conflict: Indian Mutiny

Gazetted: August 23, 1858

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Nemphlar, Lanarkshire/March 3, 1821

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Colour Sergeant (later Sergeant Major)

Date of bravery: May 5, 1858

London Gazette citation:

42^nd Regiment. Colour-Serjeant William Gardner. Date of Act of Bravery, 5th May, 1858.

For his conspicuous and gallant conduct on the morning of the 5th of May last, in having saved the life of Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron, his Commanding Officer, who during the Action at Bareilly on that day, had been knocked from his horse, when three Fanatics rushed upon him. Colour-Serjeant Gardner ran out, and in a moment bayonetted two of them, and was in the act of attacking the third, when he was shot down by another soldier of the Regiment. (Letter from Captain Macpherson, 42nd Regiment, to Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron, Commanding that Regiment.)

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: DCM, MSM

Place/date of death: Bothwell, Lanarkshire/October 24, 1897

Grave/memorials: Bothwell Park Cemetery, Lanarkshire

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2007

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum