William Olpherts
Captain, Bengal Artillery
- Register No.
- 944 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- Bengal Artillery all Bengal Artillery VCs →
- Date of action
- 25 September 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 18th June 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- 8th March 1822 at Dartrey, County Armagh, Ireland
- Died
- the 30th April, 1902 at Upper Norwood, London
- Memorial / grave
- at Richmond Cemetery, Surrey
Digest of citation
For highly distinguished Conduct when the troops penetrated into the City of Lucknow, India on the 25th September, 1857 having charged in on horseback with the 90th Regiment, headed by Colonel Campbell. They captured two guns in the face of heavy enemy grape fire, and having returned to bring up limbers and horses in order to carry off the captured equipment had galloped in under severe heavy musketry fire, he succeeded. Captain Olpherts was elected under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant by his fellow officers
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
OLPHERTS, William. (reg No. 944).
Captain. Bengal Artillery.
London Gazetted on 18th June 1858.
Born on 8th March 1822 at Dartrey, County Armagh, Ireland.
Died on the 30th April, 1902 at Upper Norwood, London.
Memorial on grave at Richmond Cemetery, Surrey.
Digest of Citation reads: For highly distinguished Conduct when the troops penetrated into the City of Lucknow, India on the 25th September, 1857 having charged in on horseback with the 90th Regiment, headed by Colonel Campbell. They captured two guns in the face of heavy enemy grape fire, and having returned to bring up limbers and horses in order to carry off the captured equipment had galloped in under severe heavy musketry fire, he succeeded. Captain Olpherts was elected under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant by his fellow officers.
Additional information:. General Sir William Olpherts was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath (GCB). In 1888 he was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery. More to be added.
Additional information
General Sir William Olpherts was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath (GCB). In 1888 he was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery. More to be added.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Richmond Cemetery, Surrey
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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