William Gardner
Colour-Sergeant, 42nd Regiment
- Register No.
- 441 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Colour-Sergeant (register: Colour Sergeant) all Colour-Sergeants →
- Unit
- 42nd Regiment (register: 42nd Regiment of Foot) all 42nd Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 5 May 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 23rd August, 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- 3rd March, 1821 at Nemphlar, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Died
- 24th October, 1897 at Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Memorial / grave
- at Bothwell Park Cemetery, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Digest of citation
On 1st May, 1858 at Bareilly, India, Colour-Sergeant Gardner saved the life of Lieutenant Cameron commanding officer who, during the fighting at Bareilly, had been knocked from his horse, when three fanatics rushed to attack him. Colour Sergeant Gardner ran out and promptly bayoneted two of them and was in the act of attacking the third when he was shot down and killed by another member of his Regiment
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GARDNER, William. (reg No. 441).
Colour-Sergeant. 42nd Regiment.* London Gazetted on 23rd August, 1858.
Born on 3rd March, 1821 at Nemphlar, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Died on 24th October, 1897 at Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Memorial on grave at Bothwell Park Cemetery, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Digest of Citation reads: On 1st May, 1858 at Bareilly, India, Colour-Sergeant Gardner saved the life of Lieutenant Cameron commanding officer who, during the fighting at Bareilly, had been knocked from his horse, when three fanatics rushed to attack him. Colour Sergeant Gardner ran out and promptly bayoneted two of them and was in the act of attacking the third when he was shot down and killed by another member of his Regiment.
* Black Watch .
Additional information: Sergeant-Major Gardner also held the MSM. The above record came through a letter from Captain McPherson of the 42nd Regiment to Lieutenant Col Cameron, the Commanding Officer of the 42nd.(Who's life Gardner saved)
Additional information
Sergeant-Major Gardner also held the MSM The above record came through a letter from Captain McPherson of the 42nd Regiment to Lieutenant Col Cameron, the Commanding Officer of the 42nd.(Who's life Gardner saved)
* Black Watch .
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Bothwell Park Cemetery, Lanarkshire, Scotland
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.
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