William Gardner VC
Name: William Gardner
Conflict: Indian Mutiny
Gazetted: August 23, 1858
Service: Army
William Gardner VC
Medal group
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:
42nd 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.)
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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