William Napier
Sergeant, 1st Battalion. 13th Regiment
- Register No.
- 913 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion. 13th Regiment (register: 13th Regiment of Foot) all 13th Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 6 April 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 24th December, 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- in 1828 at Bingley, Yorkshire
- Died
- 2nd June 1908 at Rochester, Victoria, Australia
- Memorial / grave
- at Rochester Cemetery, Victoria, Australia
Digest of citation
For conspicuous gallantry on 6th April 1858 near Azimghur, India, Sergeant Napier, while surrounded by Sepoys, he bandaged the wounds of Private Benjamin Milnes of the 13th Regiment, whilst under fire. He remained with him, until he was finally able to carry him to safety
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
NAPIER, William. (reg No. 913).
Sergeant. 1st Battalion. 13th Regiment. * London Gazetted on 24th December, 1858.
Born in 1828 at Bingley, Yorkshire.
Died on 2nd June 1908 at Rochester, Victoria, Australia.
Memorial on grave at Rochester Cemetery, Victoria, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry on 6th April 1858 near Azimghur, India, Sergeant Napier, while surrounded by Sepoys, he bandaged the wounds of Private Benjamin Milnes of the 13th Regiment, whilst under fire. He remained with him, until he was finally able to carry him to safety.
* Prince Consort's (Albert's) Somerset Light Infantry.
Additional information:. Sergeant-Major Napier joined the 13th Regiment on 10th December 1846. He saw service in the Indian Mutiny where he won his Victoria Cross. He left the army at his own request on 10th December 1862, after 16 years service.
Additional information
Sergeant-Major Napier joined the 13th Regiment on 10th December 1846. He saw service in the Indian Mutiny where he won his Victoria Cross. He left the army at his own request on 10th December 1862, after 16 years service.
* Prince Consort's (Albert's) Somerset Light Infantry.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Rochester Cemetery, Victoria, Australia
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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