William Alexander Kerr

Lieutenant, 24th Bombay Native Infantry

VC
Register No.
689 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
Unit
24th Bombay Native Infantry all 24th Bombay Native Infantry VCs →
Date of action
10 July 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
Conflict / campaign
Indian Mutiny
London Gazette
24th April, 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
Born
18th July, 1831 at Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Died
19th May 1919 at Folkestone, Kent
Memorial / grave
at Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone, Kent

Digest of citation

On 10th July 1857 at Kolapore, India, Lieutenant Kerr, along with a small party, went to attack the position taken up by mutineers in the stronghold near the town. The attacking party had no guns and the enemy kept up a ceaseless fire. Lieutenant Kerr made a dash at one of the gateways with a some dismounted men and forced an entrance. The attack was a success, the defenders being either killed, wounded or captured

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

KERR, William Alexander. (reg No. 689).

Lieutenant. 24th Bombay Native Infantry.

London Gazetted on 24th April, 1858.

Born on 18th July, 1831 at Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland.

Died on 19th May 1919 at Folkestone, Kent.

Memorial on grave at Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone, Kent.

Digest of Citation reads: On 10th July 1857 at Kolapore, India, Lieutenant Kerr, along with a small party, went to attack the position taken up by mutineers in the stronghold near the town. The attacking party had no guns and the enemy kept up a ceaseless fire. Lieutenant Kerr made a dash at one of the gateways with a some dismounted men and forced an entrance. The attack was a success, the defenders being either killed, wounded or captured.

Additional information:. He later attained the rank of Captain.

Additional information

He later attained the rank of Captain

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: at Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone, Kent

Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.

Research this recipient further

Would you like to honour William Alexander Kerr by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.